Timeline

Bishop Thomas Byrne and Catholic Education

The arrival of Thomas Sebastian Byrne as the fifth Bishop of Nashville in 1894 brought a revitalization of the idea of a Catholic-based education to the Diocese. In 1914, Bp. Byrne began his plans for The Nashville Catholic High School for Boys, what is considered the roots of Father Ryan.

Founding Year of Nashville Catholic School for Boys

Founder Bishop Alphonse Smith opened the school, then located at 2015 West End Avenue next to the Cathedral Church and School.The first day of school occurred on Saturday, September 14, 1925.

WWII "The Spirit of Father Ryan"

The school answered the call to support World War II’s equipment needs and raised over $598,000 for the Fourth War Loan Drive. They purchased a B-17 Flying Fortress named "The Spirit of Father Ryan."

First Tennessee School to Integrate

Father Ryan was the first of two schools in Tennessee to integrate. In September 1954, four months after Brown v. Board of Education ended school segregation, a group of black students enrolled at Father Ryan. When asked by the media how many black students had enrolled in the school that year, Father Francis Shea, the principal, responded that the school doesn’t have black and white students, just Father Ryan students.

Welcoming the Lady Irish

Father Ryan merged with the all-female Cathedral High School and became co-educational.

A New Home on Norwood Drive

Father Ryan again outgrew its facilities and, during the summer of 1991, relocated to its present home at 700 Norwood Drive in the Oak Hill area of Nashville. The 43-acre site includes an Academic Building, an Administrative Cloister Building featuring art rooms, a band room, a Dining Hall, and the Chapel of St. James. The Catignani-Drennan Fieldhouse features three full-size basketball courts, a wrestling room, locker rooms, and coaching offices. The spacious site also has softball, baseball, soccer, football fields, and a track. In an ode to the former Elliston Place campus, the original front doors to the school can be seen on the Neuhoff Library.

First School in the Nation to Receive Dual Accreditation

Father Ryan became the first school in the nation to receive dual accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). The school first received SACS accreditation in 1928.

Marching Band Performs at Macy's Day Parade

The Father Ryan Marching Band captured the hearts of the nation when they marched in the 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and more importantly, brought a smile and a little relief to Far Rockaway, NY, a city recently hit and still reeling from the damage done by Hurricane Sandy. The band's 75-second show included elaborate movements, exceptional musicality, leaps and hurdles and robotic expressions all to the delight of the 3.5 million people lining the streets for the parade and the millions watching on TV. The band's performance was a huge success with Entertainment Weekly declaring Father Ryan's uniforms the best of the parade and the band was trending top on Twitter.

It was a special moment for Father Ryan Band alumni as well - every band member who walked the parade route walked with a photo of one of the bands in Father Ryan's 65-year Marching Band history. Most importantly, Father Ryan students marched for 45 minutes through the streets of Far Rockaway, NY, bringing out homeowners, firefighters, visitors, and police officers out following the sound bringing smiles, appreciation, and tears to all who were there.

Jim Carell Fitness Center Opens

The Jim Carell Fitness Center added 15,000 square feet of new space--including a new football locker room; new fitness and strength room that at 4,500 square feet is five times the size of the old one; the Patrick Simpson '74 Wrestling Facility; a sports medicine room and a new team room flanked by trophy cases showcasing the school's rich athletic history. Another 15,000 square feet of existing space was renovated to provide new locker rooms, offices, classroom space, and meeting spaces for the school.

50th Anniversary of the Game that Changed the South

On January 4, 1965, Pearl High and Father Ryan High School, two of the best basketball teams in the state, met at the Municipal Auditorium in the first athletic event in the South between an integrated team and an all-African-American team. The game brought more than 8,000 fans to the Auditorium for a thrilling game, won by Father Ryan at the buzzer 52-51. But, the significance of the game rebounded far beyond the score, marking a pivotal and powerful moment in the South's Civil Rights history. In 2015, members of both teams, Pearl and Father Ryan, gathered again to be honored on the 50th anniversary of this important game in history. The event was a full day of activities called A Day to Remember: The 50th Anniversary of the Game That Changed the South. The day included a speaker series with players from both teams, including Perry Wallace and Walter Fisher from Pearl, Jesse Porter and Lyn Dempsey from Father Ryan, and author Andrew Maraniss who wrote about this game in his book, Strong Inside, and an exhibit dedication in the civil rights room at the Downtown Public Library. Later that evening, current Father Ryan girls and boys teams competed in honorary games against current Pearl boys and girls teams at the same famed Municipal Auditorium where Father Ryan and Pearl faced each other 50 years ago. 

Top Student-Led Relay For Life in the World

Since 2010, Father Ryan High School has hosted Relay for Life through the leadership and commitment of our students. Inspired by the struggle of classmates who themselves battled cancer, students over the years have run this event with passion and dedication. In October 2016, nearly 50 teams with almost 1,100 total participants raised over $175,000 for the American Cancer Society, shattering our previous record and making us the top fundraising Relay for Life per capita among every high school in the world.

Pat Flynn Spirit of Relay Award

Father Ryan's multi-year commitment to Relay for Life earned it the first-ever Pat Flynn Spirit of Relay Award from the American Cancer Society.

Inaugural Class of the Athletics Hall of Fame

In 2019, we welcomed our inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame inductees class. This class consisted of 34 athletes, six coaches, three contributors, and seven teams whose legacy and accomplishments embodied the Irish Spirit. 

Welcoming the 100th Graduating Class

Father Ryan welcomed its 100th graduating class in August 2022, when the Class of 2026 began the 2022-2023 school year.