Four KCHS generations recognized
Matriarch, age 96, helps celebrate school’s 90th anniversary with great-grandson as a freshman
KCHS Class of 1945 graduate Helen Marie Mabry Connor, now 96, along with her son, Mike Connor (Class of 1969) and granddaughter, Mandy Connor Welch (Class of 1998) were on campus Tuesday, Aug. 9, to welcome great-grandson, Connor Welch (Class of 2026), who was beginning his freshman year.
Connor not only is the first of the family’s fourth generation to attend KCHS, but he also is the 29th family member to do so, said his aunt, Christy Connor Watkins (Class of 1989 and Helen’s youngest child), who, along with her son, KCHS senior Patton Watkins, also was on hand to mark the occasion.
The group gathered at the West Knox County school’s Fox Lonas campus in St. Gregory the Great Auditorium lobby — named Mike ’69 & Carroll ’72 Connor Lobby in honor of the family — for photos and to reminisce.
Helen, all smiles and still spry, noted she “attended the ‘old school’” along Magnolia Avenue, as did her late husband, Joe Connor.
“It’s where we met,” she added.
“I had a wonderful experience at this school, just as my mom had a wonderful experience at this school,” said Christy, who was the last of the family’s second generation to graduate.
“KCHS has meant the absolute world to me,” she added. “Being the youngest of six, some of my first memories in life are of my older siblings at KCHS, football games, homecomings and graduations.
“The desire to join in the tradition of going to KCHS like my parents, siblings and cousins was strong. KCHS has always been much more than just my high school — it has been my faith, family and because my own three children attended, my future.”
Summing up 80-plus years of family’s ties to the school, “It’s an absolute honor to be part of my mother’s legacy at KCHS. I must say, however, my children sharing in that legacy is even better,” Christy said.
School history, goals, notable graduates
Knoxville Catholic graduated its first class of 11 students in 1933. The school graduated 143 in 2022.
“Catholic High rests securely on the foundation of
those who have gone before,” said Pam Rhoades, KCHS
director of marketing and communications.
“The school now boasts over 7,000 alumni who live and work across the globe,” she added.
Notable grads include Pulitzer Prize-winning author Cormac McCarthy (Class of 1950) and NFL players Harrison Smith (2009) and Amari Rodgers (2017).
Dating back to its beginning in 1932, “KCHS lives its mission of teaching the gospel, igniting a love for learning and nurturing individual growth in mind, body and spirit, as students are prepared to be disciples of Christ who influence a constantly changing world,” Rhoades said.
