History

The Beginning of Catholic Secondary Education in Amarillo

St. Mary’s Academy, the oldest private school in Amarillo, was first established January 16, 1899, in Clarendon, Texas by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word from San Antonio, TX.  The school was moved to its present location in Amarillo in 1913.  St. Mary's Academy was co-education for students (1) through (6), and was a high school for young ladies only.  This is were the history of Catholic secondary education began in Amarillo. 

In the spring of 1928, Bishop R. A. Gerken purchased 40 acres of land 3 miles northeast of Amarillo for an all male preparatory school.  Anxious to begin classes, Bishop Gerken opened St. George's College in September 12, 1928 before construction of the school had even been completed.  Lacking a building, the 35 students who enrolled attended classes in the basement of the old Sacred Heart Cathedral.

A Fortuitous Benefactor

Soon after classes began, Bishop Gerken received alarming news.  Cardinal Mudelein (for whom the school was named) failed to secure the funding that was promised.  So, Bishop Gerkan began a frantic search for money.  Almost immediately the bishop encountered good fortune.  Mrs. Katherine E. Price, a widow from Connecticut , wrote to him in November inquiring about the needs of the Diocese.  Mrs. Price was intent upon aiding the church in the Southwest in the form of donations from the estate of her late husband,  Lucian B. Price.  Bishop Gerken informed Mrs. Price about the need for money to finish construction of the new school, and Mrs. Price responded by agreeing to finance St. George's College and to add two wings to the building.  The first school year ended with the graduation of three students.  And in honor of Mrs. Price, the school was renamed Price Memorial College .

Construction of the original building was completed in February 1929.  Dedication of the two new wings took place October 27, 1929, just three days after the stock market crash and the beginning of the Great Depression.  Mrs. Price journeyed from Connecticut for the dedication.

Generosity and Hard Prevail

The poverty of the Depression could have closed Price Memorial College , but the generosity of Mrs. Price and the hard work of the school's teachers, students, and families saved it.

Bishop Gerken had purchased a single section farm a few miles northeast of the school to produce food for the students and to provide jobs for those who could not afford tuition.  The bishop brought in priests from surrounding parishes to teach and to live at the school.  They taught by day and did the plumbing by night.  On weekends they attended to their parishes along with the boys from school who served Mass.  In 1935, Pope Pius the XI conferred upon Mrs. Price the title of Papal Countess in recognition of her work.  She is one of only a few women to achieve a papal decoration and coat of arms.  

Price Memorial College Grows

Steady growth and Mrs. Price's patronage enabled the school to expand.  In 1936, the Christian Brothers committed to staffing the school.  In 1930, the bishop's house was built; 1938, a gym; 1940, a new library; 1941 St. Lucian's Chapel; 1948, laundry and maintenance buildings; and in 1950, Mrs. Price contributed a quarter of a million dollars to build Gerken Hall.  Cardinal Spellman arrived December 12, 1950 for the building's dedication.  Katherine Price died in 1951.  As Price Memorial College approached its thirtieth anniversary, enrollment stabilized around 150.  The school served the diocese well.  Twenty-four alumni became priests, and at least five became brothers.

The Winds of Change

The Christian Brothers staffed the school from 1936 until 1966.  When they left, Price Memorial College merged with St. Mary's Academy (an all female boarding and day school) plus grades seven and eight from Amarillo 's other Catholic schools.  In the fall of 1966, Alamo Catholic High School opened as a co-educational school under the direction of Reverend Michael Heneghan.  In 1968, Msgr. Leroy T. Matthiesen was appointed.

A new school under new management ignited the enthusiasm of the community, and Alamo 's enrollment rocketed to 425 students by 1971.  The school became known for its willingness to try new and interesting programs.  Then, the closing of the Amarillo Air Force Base suddenly cut enrollment in half.  Only due to the dedication of Father Matthiesen, his staff, Alamo 's students, and their families was the school able to survive.  Mounting maintenance problems forced Alamo to move to the west wing of St. Joseph Catholic School in 1990.  

The Third Millennium

As the scope of educational functions broadened, becoming  more complex and specialized, there was a demand for new content, new capabilities.  In response to this call, Bishop John W. Yanta courageously began a renewal of Amarillo 's Catholic schools at the beginning of the third millennium.  The focus of this renewal was made evident with the complete renovating of the school.  Alamo was renamed Holy Cross Catholic Academy and the school was dedicated on October 11th, 2000.

Holy Cross is a Catholic school for the third millennium.  We are a school for the human person and his or her education; we are a place of real pastoral ministry; we teach not only knowledge but values we are dedicated to Christ's love for the poor, the humble, and those who seek truth; we are open to all who appreciate a school where Christian values are taught and lived; and the interpersonal relationships of students, parents, teachers, directors, and staff enrich the development of all.

The Legacy

For 95 years, families in Amarillo and beyond have looked to Amarillo’s Catholic schools to provide an educational experience that does more than just educate students. Catholic schools in the Texas Panhandle have a long tradition of promoting spiritual development, community service and good citizenship in addition to providing a top-quality educational experience. Though the school names, locations and personalities of our schools have changed over the years, those core values remain.
 
Holy Cross Catholic Academy is proud of this heritage.  The Roman Catholic Diocese of Amarillo's school campuses – St. Joseph’s Catholic School, St. Mary’s Cathedral School, St. Anthony's in Hereford, St. Anthony's of Padua in Dalhart and Holy Cross Catholic Academy – are the legacy of all that’s come before them. They are the standard bearers for Catholic education, and they will carry these time-honored traditions into the future.