History Continued2

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 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 building; 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 principal.

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