Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas: A History of Excellence
Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas (Jesuit Dallas), a Catholic, private, independent, all-boys high school, has a rich history rooted in the Jesuit tradition of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Founded in 1942 under the direction of the Society of Jesus, the school strives to form young men into well-rounded leaders academically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. The Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, is a Roman Catholic order of priests and brothers founded nearly 500 years ago. Jesuit Dallas provides a rigorous student-centered Jesuit education to approximately 1,150 students in grades 9-12 with an 8:1 student-faculty ratio. The School's focus on formation of the whole person results in men who exemplify The Profile of the Graduate, which describes the characteristics of a man who seeks the fullest development of his God-given talents and puts his faith in action. The more than 12,000 graduates-Men for Others-serve as community leaders throughout the globe.
The Early Years: Laying the Foundation
The story of Jesuit Dallas begins before its official founding. In 1905, Bishop Edward Joseph Dunne, the second Bishop of Dallas, requested the Vincentian Fathers to establish a school in Dallas. This led to the opening of Holy Trinity College in 1907 at Oak Lawn and Blackburn. However, Holy Trinity College closed in 1926. The building reopened in 1930 as St. Joseph Orphanage for Girls. In 1941, the Jesuits purchased the property to establish a school for boys, marking the true beginning of Jesuit Dallas. The building was sold in the early 1960s in order to build our Inwood Campus. Turtle Creek Village, across the street from Holy Trinity Church, stands where our original campus stood.
Legal details for the transfer of the Oak Lawn-Blackburn property to the Society of Jesus were arranged by Bishop Lynch and his lawyer, Mr. George Burgess, with Fr. Shields and Mr. Charles I. Denechaud, province lawyer. At the time, orphans were residing in the building, awaiting the reconstruction of the new St. Joseph's Orphanage.
The Founding and First Academic Year
A cablegram from Fr. General granted permission for a Jesuit school. Jesuit Dallas was founded in 1942 as a Catholic, private, independent, all-boys high school under the direction of the Society of Jesus. Rev. Joseph Mulhern, S.J. served as the first president. The school's office officially opened, with business previously conducted in corridors, parlors, and even on the front steps. Miss Lois La Grange, "a qualified librarian," was hired to complete the library work started by the scholastics.
The first faculty included:
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- Rev. Joseph C. Wagner, S.J.
- Rev. James M. Buckley, S.J.
- Rev. James D. Carroll, S.J.
- Rev. Hilton A. Crane, S.J.
- Rev. Fred M. O’ Connor, S.J.
- Rev. William J. Reagan, S.J.
- Mr. Edward J. Bergen, S.J.
- Mr. Elwood P. Hecker, S.J.
- Mr. Michael P. Kammer, S.J.
- Mr. John C. Moran, S.J.
- Br. Martial O. Lapeyre, S.J., Superintendent of Bldgs.
Classes first met on the ground floor assembly hall at 9:15 AM, with a brief talk by Fr. Mulhern. Approximately 168 students paid full tuition, 17 received free tuition, and 9 received partial tuition.
Bishop Lynch insisted that tuition for the first few years should be sixty dollars per annum as the maximum charge for both tuition and all extra curricula activity fees.
Early Academic and Extracurricular Activities
From the beginning, Jesuit Dallas emphasized a well-rounded education. The school gained membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools at their annual meeting, represented by Fr. Mulhern. This affiliation supplemented recognition already received from the Texas Department of Education.
Several clubs were formed in the first year, including:
- Choral (Mr. Hecker)
- Philothespic (moderator M. P. Kammer, SJ)
- Science (including Radio club)
- Sodality (formed by Fr. Koch)
The Sodality of Mary in Jesuit H. S. began with Rev. Pat Koch, V.P. of club
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The school also established its own song, “The Ranger Victory March,” written by faculty member, Mr. Edward P. Hecker, S.J., and arranged by Mr. Elwood P. Hecker, S.J.
Athletics in the Early Years
Jesuit Dallas joined the Dallas 8-AA of the Texas Interscholastic League. Eddie Maher, Jr. was hired as coach at $1,000 a year. The team opened the season Sept. 25 against Waxahachie High.
Early football games included:
- Loss to Waxahachie (19-6)
- Victory over Pleasant Grove (40-0) on the Jesuit field
- Defeat by St. Mary's (13-0) in the Cotton Bowl. Jesuit paid St. Mary's $300 to come to Dallas.
- Loss to St. Edwards of Texarkana. Jesuit paid St. Edwards of Texarkana $175 guarantee and lost about $150.
- Victory over St. Edwards of Texarkana.
The basketball team participated in the Plano tournament. Loses to Sunset H.S.
Growth and Development
Over the years, Jesuit Dallas has continued to grow and develop, both academically and physically. The original building underwent renovations, with whole sections virtually rebuilt. An endowment fund drive was promoted, with Dallas Jesuit being the first Jesuit institution in the United States to begin its work of education with an Endowment Fund. If the Jesuits "leave the school…Bishop Lynch automatically would become chairman of the endowment committee which would then have the authority to dispose of the fund within the diocese as it saw fit".
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Tiles for chapel floor are donated by The Sacred Heart; new pews installed in domestic chapel; donations of books, appointments to the chapel, pictures, etc.
A Commitment to Excellence
The mission of Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas draws its inspiration and vision from St. Ignatius of Loyola. The School's focus on formation of the whole person results in men who exemplify The Profile of the Graduate, which describes the characteristics of a man who seeks the fullest development of his God-given talents and puts his faith in action. Students are not taught "what to think" about things but rather "to think" about things. The Profile of the Graduate touches every aspect of life at Jesuit Dallas. The intangible gifts and growth gained during a young man's years at Jesuit Dallas will serve him for a lifetime.
Modern Facilities and Athletic Achievements
As part of Ad Majorem: The Campaign for Jesuit Dallas, the School has bolstered its athletic facilities to enhance the student-athlete experience. Campaign-funded construction projects include the David A. Segal Family Aquatic Center, a 28,000-square foot facility that includes an eight-lane competition pool and serves as the home for Jesuit water polo and swimming & diving, and the Dove Fieldhouse, a 26,000-square foot, two-story multi-use center that offers innovative solutions for sport-specific training throughout the year and provides an indoor training home for golf, crew, wrestling, and cycling.
In a remarkable show of support for the Jesuit Dallas mission and in a display of financial generosity unequaled in the school's 78-year history, Rachel Segal committed the most significant gift in the history of Jesuit Dallas as the single donor in the construction of the $17 million David A. Segal Family Aquatic Center. The David A. Segal Family Aquatic Center is a 29,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art natatorium, which serves as a practice and competitive venue for the swimming and diving teams, and the school's water polo program. The facility includes a competition pool and a warm-up/teaching pool with separate climate and water temperature controls. The facility will also include springboards for one-meter diving, locker rooms, a climate-controlled gallery with chair-back spectator seating for 250 guests, and a full-color indoor video display.
The Rangers have won 129 team state titles since 1954. Jesuit's hockey secured its sixth consecutive Texas Amateur Hockey Association (TAHA) Division I Pure Division State Championship in 2024, once again earning the state's bid to the USA High School Hockey National Championships. The Ranger lacrosse program has established a legacy as one of the top programs in the state, and has won four Texas High School Lacrosse League (THSLL) State Championships. The 2019 Jesuit Dallas football program made the deepest run in program history, reaching the Elite Eight during a run that saw the Rangers topple reigning state champion Longview, a program that entered the match-up on a 49-game winning streak, in the UIL Area Round. Jesuit Dallas basketball has reached the State's Sweet Sixteen on three occasions, advancing to the regional tournament for the first time in program history in 2017 before advancing to the regional championship for the first time in 2018. Jesuit Dallas student-athletes have secured 13 individual UIL State Championships, including eight state titles in swimming and diving, three titles in golf and a pair of championships in wrestling. Jesuit Dallas Hall of Fame swimmer Matt Thompson '08 has the most state titles in program history, winning six during his dominant run as a Ranger. In 2016, Jesuit Dallas crew earned a prestigious bid to compete in the Princess Elizabeth Cup at the 2016 Henley Royal Regatta in the United Kingdom. The Rangers' rugby program has amassed a 26-5 record since 2019, securing a Rugby Texas Single School Championship in 2021 before earning the Rugby Texas Varsity Cup in 2023. The Jesuit Dallas strength & conditioning program has earned 12 consecutive National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Strength of America Awards.
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