Central Catholic High School (Portland, Oregon)
Encyclopedia
Central Catholic High School is a co-educational, private high school in Portland, Oregon
, United States
. Central Catholic is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church
, and is the only archdiocesan high school in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland
.
as a diocesan high school for boys. Although the Great Depression
made fund raising difficult, the Knights of Columbus
staged fund-raising affairs and a generous bequest
made it possible to open the first unit of the school in 1939. It was dedicated on May 9, 1939 and opened with about 125 freshmen and sophomore students. The first principal was Father Francis Schaefers.
Initially the school operated on a pay-as-you-go basis, meeting its expenses with its tuition, which was $50 a year. Overhead was low because many classes were taught by the diocesan priests, who did not take salaries, and by sisters from different congregations, who were paid $50 a month.
While teaching, many of the priests continued their education at universities such as the University of Notre Dame
, the University of Oregon
, Catholic University
, Dominican College of San Rafael, and the University of Chicago
.
Central Catholic became a co-ed high school in the 1980s.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Central Catholic is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, and is the only archdiocesan high school in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland
The Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It encompasses the western part of the state of Oregon, from the summit of the Cascades to the Pacific Ocean...
.
History
Central Catholic was founded in 1939 by Archbishop Edward HowardEdward Howard (bishop)
Edward Daniel Howard was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Portland from 1926 to 1966.-Early life and education:...
as a diocesan high school for boys. Although the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
made fund raising difficult, the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
staged fund-raising affairs and a generous bequest
Bequest
A bequest is the act of giving property by will. Strictly, "bequest" is used of personal property, and "devise" of real property. In legal terminology, "bequeath" is a verb form meaning "to make a bequest."...
made it possible to open the first unit of the school in 1939. It was dedicated on May 9, 1939 and opened with about 125 freshmen and sophomore students. The first principal was Father Francis Schaefers.
Initially the school operated on a pay-as-you-go basis, meeting its expenses with its tuition, which was $50 a year. Overhead was low because many classes were taught by the diocesan priests, who did not take salaries, and by sisters from different congregations, who were paid $50 a month.
While teaching, many of the priests continued their education at universities such as the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, Catholic University
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
, Dominican College of San Rafael, and the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
.
Central Catholic became a co-ed high school in the 1980s.
Athletics
Central Catholic High School has a rich athletic tradition having won 23 State Championships and 18 state 2nd place titles since 1945.- Boys cross country: 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
- Boys soccer: 2007
- Boys basketball: 1994 (4A)
Notable alumni
- Michael DoleacMichael DoleacMichael Scott Doleac is an American former professional basketball player.Doleac was selected 12th overall in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic...
, basketball, Minnesota TimberwolvesMinnesota TimberwolvesThe Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor... - Kevin GundersonKevin GundersonKevin Gunderson is a Minor League Baseball pitcher who played for the Oregon State Beavers of Oregon State University before being drafted by the Atlanta Braves.-College career:...
, baseball, Atlanta BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997.... - Joey HarringtonJoey HarringtonJohn Joseph "Joey" Harrington, Jr. is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions third overall in the 2002 NFL Draft, where he played for most of his professional career. He ranks third all-time in Detroit history in pass completions, with 986...
, football quarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, Atlanta FalconsAtlanta FalconsThe Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - Fred QuillanFred QuillanFrederick David Quillan is a former professional American football offensive lineman from 1978 through 1987. During that span he appeared in two Super Bowls: Super Bowl XVI and Super Bowl XIX for the San Francisco 49ers. He played college football at the University of Oregon...
, 1974, football, San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... - Galen RuppGalen RuppGalen Rupp is an American cross-country and track and field athlete, who competed for the University of Oregon and currently trains under Alberto Salazar as a member of the Oregon Track Club. Rupp competed for his native country in the men's 10000 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing,...
, distance runner - George Van HoomissenGeorge Van HoomissenGeorge Albert Van Hoomissen is an American attorney in the state of Oregon, United States. He previously served as the 87th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court and served on the Oregon Court of Appeals...
, former justice on the Oregon Supreme CourtOregon Supreme CourtThe Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...