Cathedral High School (Detroit, Michigan)

Catherdral High School was an all-boys Catholic high school established in Detroit, Michigan in 1953.^[1][2]

A college preparatory boys Catholic high school founded by the Marist Fathers in 1953 as Cathedral Central High School, and operated by the Brothers of Christian Instruction in Central Detroit beginning in 1955. In 1961, because of confusion with Catholic Central, the Brothers changed the name to Detroit Cathedral High School. At its peak, Cathedral had a student population of 640, and functioned alongside Catholic Central, Notre Dame, Austin Prep, University of Detroit High School, Brother Rice, De La Salle, St. Joseph’s High School and Salesian as the all boys Catholic schools serving the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Academically, it was an elite school, with a graduation rate over 97%, and a college attendance rate over 90%. Cathedral Men have gone on to be doctors, lawyers, college professors, engineers, salesman, musicians, community leaders, teachers, athletic directors, and the guys you can count on. ��

Athletically, Cathedral competed in the Catholic League’s tough Central Division, going head to head with the toughest teams in the state. While not always having the winningest record, the Wildcats graduated, Reggie Cavender, the fullback who would go on to score Michigan State’s only touchdown in their famous 10 – 10 tie with Notre Dame in 1966; developed several future highly respected coaches; had an infielder who would go on to become a highly esteemed professor of biology at Eastern Michigan University; football and basketball players who went on to become leaders in medicine. Wildcats competed in football, basketball, baseball, hockey, track, golf and swimming. The hockey team was always ranked among the states elite, and won several titles.

In 1966, the building on Belmont getting old, built in 1901, and having previously served Catholic Central, the Brothers of Christian Instruction pursued a new site for Cathedral in western Wayne County near the Livonia, Westland, Redford, Dearborn Heights border, but because commitments to Walsh University on the part of the brothers, and a on the part of the Archdiocese to 4 new high schools they recently started themselves, the dream of a new school did not come true, and Cathedral closed with its last graduating class in 1970.

Cathedral can best be summed by a statement written by student Mike Gruba, published in its final yearbook in 1970:

“Though only the test of time will tell Cathedral’s influence on its men, still one thing is sure: their conduct will live on, long after their books have been closed. But to those of us of the final class, its inspiration will always be special. If, in the years to come, someone happens to exclaim, partly in jest, ‘Don’t tell me Cathedral’s still in business?’ –we’re sure to have a ready answer: It sure the Hell is!”

Notable Alumni:

Regis Cavender, Michigan State football player, Brother Rice Athletic Director Allen Kurta, Professor of Biology, Easter Michigan University, (Ref: https://www.emich.edu/directory/?first-name=Allen&last-name=Kurta#akurta) Richard Jaissle, Operations Manager, Traverse Symphony Orchestra (Ref: http://traversesymphony.org/musician/rick-jaissle/) Luther Keith, Columnist, Detroit News, Managing Director, Arise Detroit (Ref: https://www.arisedetroit.org/copy-of-about-1) Derrick Carter, Professor of Law, Valparaiso University (Ref: https://www.valpo.edu/law/about-us/full-time-faculty/derrick-augustus-carter)

References

Coordinates: 42°23′20.1″N 83°05′2.7″W / 42.388917°N 83.084083°W / 42.388917; -83.084083