Knoxville Catholic High School honored an “Irish Legend” and celebrated its 90th year March 4 with the 11th annual Green & Gold Gala at The Press Room in Knoxville.
Julia Driscoll Schriver of the class of 1946 was the legend honoree. More than 300 gathered for the gala, and the event raised more than $140,000.
Monsignor Pat Garrity, a former principal of Knoxville Catholic High School, greets Julia Schriver at the Green & Gold Gala.
“Julia’s accomplishments are many, and she has been an ardent supporter of KCHS, playing an instrumental role in establishing the current Fox Lonas campus as well as the Schriver Fine Arts Suite,” said Knoxville Catholic president Dickie Sompayrac.
Mrs. Schriver recalled her days at KCHS.
“When I went to Catholic High School, it was a small, small school,” she said. “In my class, there were around 23 students, and seven of them were boys,” she added with a laugh. “So, you see, the girls didn’t have much choice.”
In those days, KCHS was in the old Ashe House on Magnolia Avenue in East Knoxville.
“It was just a big old-fashioned house with huge rooms,” Mrs. Schriver said. “Oh, it was a wonderful place. We thought that was just heaven at Catholic High. They built the gym, and next to it was a science room.”
She remembers her physics teacher.
KCHS president Dickie Sompayrac presents the “Irish Legend” award to Julia Schriver. Mrs. Schriver, of the class of 1946, is a longtime supporter of KCHS.
“I can remember Sister Mary Irene taught physics,” Mrs. Schriver said. “Now, I took physics, and I couldn’t tell you what physics is.”
After graduating from KCHS, Mrs. Schriver met her husband of 62 years, Robert.
“Some friends introduced us,” she said. “That was in ’51, and we got married.”
The Schrivers had three children, Robert, Suzanne, and Father Ragan Schriver.
The Raise the Paddle portion of the Green & Gold Gala live auction raised more than $35,000 for the Fine Arts Department at KCHS.
