O’Dea High School, the only all-male Catholic high school in the Pacific Northwest, is celebrating its 100th year of preparing students to be men of character, faith and service.

“Young men are drawn to O’Dea for our strong academics, single-gender education, array of athletic and co-curricular activities, and a brotherhood that lasts a lifetime,” said Principal Jim Walker.

O’Dea opened Sept. 4, 1923, across the street from St. James Cathedral, with 166 students in grades 7-10. They attended classes in three portable buildings until construction of the Gothic-style main building at 803 Terry Ave.  was complete. On March 16, 1924, Bishop Edward J. O’Dea blessed the school; students moved in the next day.

The 1928 O’Dea High School basketball team. (Courtesy Seattle Archdiocese Archives)

In the early years, students took classes in Latin, English, chemistry, physics and mathematics. Athletics began with an 11-member football squad. The gym on the school’s top floor was the biggest in the city. For nearly the first 20 years, members of the Congregation of Christian Brothers made up the entire faculty.

During World War II, O’Dea let students graduate in January so they could serve their country; in 1947, 24 students were honored after losing their lives in the war.

Brother J.B. Jones teaches sophomore biology in 1964. (Courtesy Seattle Archdiocese Archives)

Over the years, the school expanded to accommodate growing enrollment. For many years, most O’Dea students came from nearby parish grade schools. Today, 460 students are enrolled, coming from 95 Seattle-area ZIP codes; nearly 40% of O’Dea’s students are non-Catholic and 47% come from culturally diverse backgrounds.

“After four years, the young men leave prepared for the future, with friendships that often last decades and span generations, a connection known as the ‘O’Dea brotherhood,’” Walker said.

In the last 100 years, more than 8,000 young men have graduated from O’Dea. They include leaders in business and public service, an archbishop, professional athletes and even a media personality.

As O’Dea celebrates its centennial, “we feel a deep sense of pride and appreciation for those who came before us,” Walker said — the people who built “a remarkable school that provides a quality education and an extraordinary high school experience to any deserving young man, regardless of his socio-economic circumstances.”


Notable O’Dea Alumni

Joselito “Lito” Barber, Class of 1998. (Courtesy Seattle Police Department)
Charlie Greene, Class of 1963. (Wikimedia)
Fred Couples, Class of 1977. (Shutterstock)

Nate Burleson, Class of 1999. (Shutterstock)

•  John L. O’Brien, 1929: Washington state representative, 26 terms

•  Cornelius Power, 1931: Archbishop of Portland, 1974-86

•  Patrick Brady, 1954: U.S. Army major general; Medal of Honor (Vietnam), 1969

•  Charlie Greene, 1963: Olympic gold medalist, 4x100-meter relay, 1968

•  Peter Bacho, 1968: American Book Award winner, 1992

•  Fred Couples, 1977: Professional golfer, 1992 Masters champion

•  John O’Leary, 1978: Daimler Trucks North America president/CEO

•  Joselito “Lito” Barber, 1998: Seattle police officer, died in the line of duty in 2006

•  Nate Burleson, 1999: Co-host “CBS Mornings,” CBS NFL analyst, retired NFL player, Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award co-host (2023)

•  DeAndre Yedlin, 2011: Professional soccer player, Inter Miami CF

•  Myles Gaskin, 2015: Miami Dolphins running back

•  Paolo Banchero, 2021: Orlando Magic basketball player; NBA Rookie of the Year, 2022-23                 

Sources: O’Dea High School, Northwest Catholic


Read more about O’Dea High School’s centennial and its 2023 Hall of Fame inductees here.


Read the rest of the June/July 2023 issue of Northwest Catholic here.