Values for a Lifetime

The 79 bishops who gathered in Baltimore for the historic Third Plenary council in 1884 decreed that within two years, every Catholic parish would either establish a school, or the pastor would be replaced. The action encouraged Catholics in the area, who had earlier established grade schools, to begin planning for the establishment of high school education.

Holy Angels Parish (Sidney), with the assistance of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, established the first Catholic high school in the area, and graduated their first class in 1889. Three graduates, all female, received their diplomas in that first ceremony.

By 1904 Saint Mary School (Piqua) offered a two-year, commercial diploma.  They expanded to a three-year diploma in 1916. Their first four-year diplomas were offered in 1918. The Class of 1918 included four students.

In 1924, Saint Boniface School (Piqua) added a high school program, and the school graduated students in 1927 and 1928.  In 1928, the decision was made to send  students desiring a high school diploma to Saint Mary School.  The school was renamed Piqua Catholic in 1930, reflecting a more inclusive nature.

By 1970, Saint Mary Hall was 100 years old and an inspection by the State Fire Marshall's Office revealed that extensive renovation would be necessary if the building was to continue to be used for educational purposes. After lengthy consultation, the decision was made to merge with Holy Angels High School.

The Holy Angels building was relatively new, having been constructed in 1954. A five-room addition was added in 1964.  With Holy Angels agreeing to move the seventh and eighth grades back to the elementary school, the building provided ample room for the students from both high schools. 

Because of the bitter nature of the athletic rivalry between the two high schools, many predicted that the merger would fail. Largely through the leadership of Principal Father Robert Monnin, who had been principal at Piqua Catholic prior to the merger; the Sisters of Mercy, who had helped to staff Piqua Catholic; the Sisters of Charity, who had continued to staff Holy Angels since the school was created; the efforts of the board and the Catholic community, the merger was a success.

The consolidated school was renamed Lehman High School, after Monsignor Edward C. Lehman.  Father Lehman had served as pastor of Holy Angels Parish for 34 years, and had supervised the construction of the high school prior to his death. 

Father Robert Monnin served as principal of Lehman through 1972, when Father Eugene Vonderhaar was named principal. Father Vonderhaaar served until 1976, when Father Dennis Jaspers became principal. Father Jaspers continued as principal until 1984, when Michael Barhorst was named the first lay principal of the school.

In 1985, the school community launched the Development Campaign, with a goal of $1,000,000. No local institution had ever endeavored to raised that much money previously.  Within six months, $1.3 million had been pledged. The funds were used to make major renovation to the building.

In the 1990-91 academic year, the school received initial accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The school attendance area was expanded, and for the first time, students began to travel to the school as far away as Troy, Greenville, Wapakoneta, and Russell's Point.

In 1995, the school began the 21st Century Campaign, with an initial goal of $5.5 million.  The campaign eventually raised pledges of $7.5 million.  The funds were used to construct a major building addition. 

Ground was broken for the addition in 1996 by Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk.  The addition included classrooms, labs for science, visual and performing arts areas, a computer science lab, media center, gymnasium and chapel.  The building dedication, presided over by Bishop Carl Moddell, took place just prior to the 1997 academic year.

 In 2006, after more than a decade of work, approval for a change in the school's governance model was finally obtained from the Archdiocese, and the President/Principal Model of Governance was adopted.  The Archbishop of Cincinnati appointed a Board of Limited Jurisdiction and Michael Barhorst was named the school's first president.  Denise Stauffer, who had served as the school's assistant principal, was named the principal.

Today, Lehman graduates live and work in all fifty states and more than thirty foreign countries.  Their contributions to their respective communities are reflective of the schools mission:  Lehman Catholic educates the whole person - body, mind and soul - for the glory of God and service to others.