History
Knoxville Catholic High School on East Magnolia Avenue registered 98 young men and women in 1932. The faculty was composed of four Sisters of Mercy and two lay teachers. The Reverend Christopher P. Murray was appointed director of Knoxville Catholic High School in 1941.
Under the direction of Father Murray additional space was added including a gymnasium-auditorium, dressing rooms, showers and a science laboratory. In 1947 Knoxville Catholic High School became an accredited member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
March 1951 saw the breaking of ground for another addition. The new building included five classrooms, a library, offices, lavatories, and an addition to the gymnasium. Space was made for a cafeteria and a chapel.
The extensive campus provided fields for softball, basketball, and other sports. Father Herbert Prescott became the first priest-principal of Knoxville Catholic High School in 1962. Father John Batson was named principal in 1965 and Father Xavier Mankel in 1967. Father Mankel had a long and distinguished career helping to monitor and guide the growth and development of KCHS until 1979.
Father Michael Johnston was appointed as the fourth priest-principal to serve KCHS in 1979. Father Frank Richards followed in 1982. At this time the School Board of KCHS began to organize a major capital Fund Raising Campaign to ensure the future of KCHS. Father G. Patrick Garrity arrived as principal in 1985. The school continued to grow in facilities and students.
Enrollment continued to increase over the next several years and with it a growth of faculty. The decision to move KCHS to a new facility was announced in February of 1997. After almost seven decades on Magnolia Avenue, KCHS would be moving to the Cedar Bluff area of West Knoxville. In July of 1997 Mr. Philip Dampf became the principal of KCHS and he oversaw the school’s move to West Knoxville.
In January of 2000 the construction of the new facilities was complete. Knoxville Catholic High School relocated to 9245 Fox Lonas Road and was dedicated by Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz on January 3, 2000. In 2001, Mr. Dampf resigned and Dr. Aurelia Montgomery was appointed as Interim Principal. After the successful completion of a $1 million campaign, KCHS was proud to announce the building of an All Sports Complex. Construction of the All Sports Complex was finished in 2002 in order to accommodate the growing athletic programs for KCHS.
In 2004, Dr. Montgomery retired as Interim Principal and the search committee found a successful candidate in Mr. Dickie Sompayrac, who began his tenure as KCHS principal in 2005. Also in 2005 a new Performing Arts Center was built and dedicated, providing much needed space for the performing arts. As enrollment continues to increase, plans are underway to build additional facilities.
In November of 2006, Catholic High launched the three-phased Living our Mission through Growth Capital Campaign. Through the generous support of our school community we raised $4.9 and successfully met our campaign goals: adding an academic wing, increasing our endowment and expanding our fitness facilities.
On January 6, 2008, KCHS celebrated the completion of the new wing with a blessing ceremony performed Reverend Al Humbrecht. The expansion was the first phase of our capital campaign and added ten classrooms, a guidance suite and additional parking to our campus. Reverend Chris Michelson, Pastor of St. Albert the Great and Capital Campaign Chair, announced the wing would be dedicated as Schaad Hall.
With a generous donation to the school’s endowment from the late Isabel Ashe Bonnyman ‘39, we were able to complete the second phase of our campaign and provide the school with a solid financial foundation. Faris Field House was named for John and Sondra Faris and completed our capital effort. It added 8,000 square feet of training and storage for our growing boys’ and girls’ fitness programs.
Read more about this topic: Knoxville Catholic High School
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