Bishop Kelley High School
Bishop Kelley was established in 1960 to serve as Tulsa's citywide Catholic high school. At the time of its founding, its forerunners, Holy Family High School (founded 1899) and Marquette High School (founded in 1926), closed and consolidated their student bodies into the newly formed Bishop Kelley High School. While the initial plans for the school were developed under Bishop Eugene J. McGuinness' leadership, it was the pioneering Bishop Victor Joseph Reed who oversaw its founding. Bishop Reed was a famous Catholic reformer who attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council, where he was associated with the more progressive bishops, lending his support to the use of vernacular in the Mass and to an emphasis of pastoral over administrative skills in bishops. Bishop Reed is in part responsible for the high school's legacy of lay leadership. In 1960, the year Bishop Kelley High School was founded, Bishop Reed established the first mixed (clerical and lay) diocesan board of education in the United States. The school was named for Bishop Francis Kelley, the second bishop of Oklahoma. The founder of the Catholic Church Extension Society, Bishop Kelley was an accomplished author and diplomat, whom H.L. Mencken described as "a charming Irishman" who "has had a brilliant career in the Church." He famously partnered with California oilman Edward L. Doheny to support Catholic philanthropy. At its founding, male students were taught by the LaSallian (French) Christian Brothers, while the Sisters of Divine Providence from San Antonio, Texas taught the female students. By 1965, the school had become entirely coeducational. By 1982, the Sisters of Divine Providence had been reassigned to other ministries. As of the end of the school year 2020–2021, the Christian Brothers no longer have a presence on the campus. The original school building was designed by architect Robert Lawton Jones, a Tulsa Catholic who had been a protege of Mies van der Rohe. Co-curricular opportunities include Academic Bowl, Christian Service, Class Board, Comet Ambassadors, Competitive One-Act, Drama, Drumline, Environmental Club, FCA, Foreign Language Clubs,3 on 3, Jazz Choir, Kairos, Kelley Krazies (a spirit organization), Link Crew (dedicated to mentoring freshmen), Lasallian Youth, Mission Trips, National Forensic League, Performing Arts, Play Production/Theater Tech, Photography Club, ProLife Club, Retreats, Robotics, and Student Council. The school is a frequent winner of state championships in speech and debate, academic bowl, and robotics competitions. Bishop Kelley has won more state championships than any other school of its size in Oklahoma, including state championships in baseball, football, soccer, softball, volleyball, basketball, tennis, golf and cross country. Its women's volleyball and women's soccer teams have been nationally ranked. Bishop Kelley was the first Tulsa high school to support a lacrosse team. NCAA head coach Barry Hinson (currently coaching at Southern Illinois University) coached the men's basketball team at Bishop Kelley. Bishop Kelley is also the site for Russell Westbrook's "Why Not" Basketball camp. In football, Bishop Kelley shares a tradition with cross-state rival Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School. The winner of the contest obtains possession of the "Shillelagh Trophy" for the upcoming year. The schools also compete annually in boys and girls basketball. Academic Bowl – 1993, 1995, 1998, 2004, 2005
Baseball – 1976, 1978, 2004, 2006, 2011, 2018
Boys Basketball – 1995
Boys Cross Country – 1967, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 2005, 2008
Girls Cross Country – 1985, 1986, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Fast Pitch Softball – 1977, 1991, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2001
Football – 1981
Boys Golf – 1986, 1988, 1993, 2002, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2021
Girls Golf – 1996, 2000, 2001, 2006
Boys Soccer – 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
Girls Soccer – 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2021
Speech and Debate – 1993, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013
Boys Tennis – 1995, 1999, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2019
Girls Tennis – 1985, 1987, 1995, 1997, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2019, 2021
Volleyball – 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2020
Boys Swimming – 2019, 2020, 2021
Wrestling – 1974, 1975, 1984, 1985
Spirit Squad – 2016, 2017, 2018
Total : 132
History
Though Bishop Kelley is the flagship diocesan Catholic high school for the Diocese of Tulsa, it serves both Catholic and non-Catholic students. The school consistently ranks as one of the best private high schools in Oklahoma.