Involvement, leadership strong at St. Ed's

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
June 16, 2005

Parents, administrators and faculty at St. Edmond School through the years have done what it takes to provide quality Catholic education for students in the Fort Dodge area.

Msgr. Louis Kollasch, a retired priest residing in Fort Dodge, served at St.  Edmond High School as a member of the faculty from 1963 to 1969 and then principal from 1970 to 1973.

"It was a close-knit group of people. The faculty were really warm towards one another. And of course at first we had a lot of sisters but as their numbers declined, we had to add more lay people on the staff. The lay people who came were very dedicated and fit right in," noted the priest. "Msgr. Kelly (the first superintendent) created a very positive attitude in the school and that was carried on by all of the superintendents after that."

The bulk of Msgr. Kollasch's years, he noted, represented a period of growth in enrollment. He was on hand when the school added on another wing for new science rooms, library and classrooms. Peak enrollment, he added, was in about 1970 when the high school had about 700 students.

He pointed out that he enjoyed his years at St. Edmond's and now, as a resident of the Marian Village that is located across the street from the school, he is able to attend some of the school activities and Masses.

And while the number of students have declined, he said he believes the community and parents appreciate the school "and the goodness that it is bringing to Fort Dodge and the surrounding area" all the more today.

He extended a great deal of credit to Father Pat Walsh for making it an outstanding academic institution.

"I am grateful for all of the experiences I had at St. Edmond and I am grateful for the wonderful cooperation that we had from all of the faculty members and the parents," said Msgr. Kollasch. "The parents were very supportive through the years and they still are."

The former St. Edmond principal said he believes the future of the school still looks bright. He offered wishes for another 50 years.

Thomas (T.X.) Kelley was just a young adult when he helped raise money for the proposed new Catholic high school in Fort Dodge. He said he didn't really have a choice in the matter of becoming involved because "I was a member of the church and they needed people to step up."

He acknowledged he was somewhat surprised when their efforts were successful because it was a huge undertaking at the time. His volunteerism didn't end with the fundraising. After the building went up, he remembers assembling the foldout bleachers with Leo Keleher and others. Kelley and Keleher also headed up the school's first Booster Club.

Eventually the Kelleys had four children who went through the Catholic school system in Fort Dodge.

"The school did a wonderful job with them. They all went on to four-year Catholic colleges and some did post-graduate work. We felt they received a very good foundation at St. Edmond," he said.

Kelley commended Father Pat Walsh, the former president of St. Edmond Schools, and the young families of the system for their efforts in establishing the one-site school. Although that took some effort, he said it has proved to be a success.

Father Walsh, the immediate past president of the school system, served at the school in two stints. First years were 1969 to 1975 as a guidance counselor and instructor and then from 1988 to 2002 as an instructor, principal and president.

"There were people there who were up to the challenge to take the next step to lead St. Ed's into a new generation of appearance and they had the courage to do it," he said. "I think they were blessed with some outstanding leadership."

During his tenure St. Edmond underwent three long-range plans. Father Walsh pointed out that it was the outcome of the planning that they went to the single-site school.

He sees the 50-year anniversary as a big accomplishment for the school.

"They have gone through a lot in 50 years. Catholic education nationwide has gone through all kinds of struggles, so to have survived and come through it is quite a tribute to those folks and to St. Ed's because at any point along there, they could have given up and said forget it," said Father Walsh, who presently serves as president of the Catholic Schools of Sioux City.

The past president described his years there as very challenging at times but also rewarding.

"The laity became very much involved in the schools and the leadership of them," he said. "I think it is through their leadership that St. Edmond's is able to survive and grow."

He extended congratulations to the entire community on this 50-year milestone.

Mary Stark of Fort Dodge educated her six children at St. Edmond High School.

"All of them did so well in every way," she said. "I always thought St. Edmond played a big part in how we parented our children and how well they turned out. All of our children are still going to church and all of our grandchildren that are of school age are in Catholic schools. I think that is a testament as to how they felt about their own education. They wanted their own children to have the same advantages."

And even though her last child graduated from St. Edmond in 1990 and her grandchildren go to Catholic schools in other cities, Stark continues her affiliation with the school as a volunteer.

"I haven't had anyone in the system for 15 years, but I never left the system," Stark noted.

She serves on the school's marketing committee, development board and volunteers for various functions throughout the year. When her children were in school she was involved in other capacities.

The Starks first child entered Catholic schools in Fort Dodge in 1960, so for 30 years they had at least one child in the system.

She pointed out that they liked "the family atmosphere, the good discipline" as well as religion classes and spiritual experiences of retreats and so forth. "They had the opportunity to practice their faith in a special way that even though we were strong Catholics and we tried hard to do our part, it was certainly added to because of the school system."