By Msgr. Noel Burtenshaw

The cadets of Marist were a well known landmark down on Ivy Street, around Sacred Heart Church, when the Diocese of Atlanta began. But who will remember that Atlanta sported two girls’ high schools in 1956?

One of these academies for young ladies thrived in the august basement of the Cathedral of Christ the King. With a stern eye for discipline, the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart operated this high-level, below-ground four-year preparatory school. A similar institution for the gentle sex was in full swing beside Marist on the Sacred Heart property. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Corondolet had command of this venerable institution.

But the new diocese brought with it the concept of a new high school, co-ed and centrally located.

Celeste Murphy smiles when she thinks of that ‘centrally located” concept. “They kept saying it would be at a location central to all the parishes,” remembers Celeste. “Then they put it at the north-most end of the new expressway.” The expressway in question was the new Interstate 85 and it ended, going north, at Clairmont Road in 1958. Celeste, who began her high school career as the new diocese was born, remembers some wag saying that the new school was really being located on the outskirts of Chattanooga!

The new co-educational diocesan high school, named for a patron of the new Diocese, St. Pius X, opened in 1958. And as the new was born the old died. Both girls’ schools closed.

“They said co-ed” remembers Celeste “but we had a class of 80 girls and only 20 boys. It was most disappointing -–for the girls. And those awful gold-colored skirts. I didn’t feel too good about the new school. But the facility was brand new and beautiful.”

“Father Harrison was principal and it was my first time to have a man as superior. That was strange. The other priest I remember teaching us was Father Abi-Nader, the little Maronite. He was a doll but couldn’t speak much English. He looked like Groucho Marx – cigar and all. Sister Kathleen Marie was assistant principal. We loved her very much.”

In that first year at St. Pius, does Celeste remember any of her classmates? “Oh yes. There was Jake Bollmer, a nice guy – on the rotund side. Of course he’s Father Jake now. Sister Kathleen Purser, principal of Immaculate Heart of Mary school was in the class. She was sort of quiet. Anita Willoughby who works in the School of Religion at Assumption parish was in that class too."

Another faculty member well remembered by Celeste and all St. Pius grads was George Maloof. George had coached football at Marist but came as head man in the new school. “He had no field and no gym,” says Celeste “but he had winning teams. The boys and ‘us girls’ respected the coach.”

On that first year of the new school’s existence, the Junior-Senior dance was held at Atlanta’s most respected hotel, the Dinkler Plaza. And when graduation rolled around, the first graduates received diplomas in grand style down at the Tower Theatre on Peachtree near the Fox. The first years of St. Pius existence were a struggle but a memorable success.

Celeste married Bart Murphy in 1962. They have nine children and the first three are now students in St. Pius. Celeste is very happy to see them there.

“It’s a fine school,” says the old grad. “They have the stadium and the gym now too. But looking back I'm so glad we had the chapel. It was small -–much too small for our needs – but even as kids, we were all so glad it was there. I’d like to see it returned, if that’s ever possible.”

Like so many of her generation, Celeste Murphy was a part of the old and the new. As the new diocese was born in 1956, she was part of a beginning institution, St. Pius X High School, which thrives as a part of the Church of Atlanta today.