Join us Saturday mornings for “Rock Reflections,” a series celebrating Trinity alumni. From all 50 states to countries worldwide, our graduates are making an impact, and we'll share their stories here and on social media.
For the first spotlight, who better to feature than the first young man to be handed a Trinity High School diploma, Joe Ackerman, Class of 1957.
In September 1953, Holy Trinity High School opened its doors for its first freshman class, numbering 106 students. Four teachers constituted the teaching faculty – the Reverends John Glick, John Rusterholtz and Alfred Steinhauser, Trinity’s founding principal, and layperson Mr. Thomas Sheehan.
Two years after it opened, the school’s name was shortened to Trinity High School to avoid confusion with the parish. At that time, neither Joe nor his classmates and teachers could imagine what Trinity would become.
Joe was familiar with Trinity’s campus before he enrolled for high school. He attended Holy Trinity Catholic School, which was founded on the eventual Trinity site in 1882. Holy Trinity parish and school moved to its present location on Cherrywood Road in St. Matthews in 1953.
The Trinity campus Joe experienced comprised one classroom building. Originally known as A Building, it was renamed Old Trinity Hall in the 1970s.
Joe was raised in the Brownsboro Road area across from Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.
As Joe candidly admits, “I was a little afraid on that first day of school. I was just a shy country boy.”
Joe immersed himself in the life of Trinity. He played baseball and basketball for four years, and football his freshman year. That freshman football team notched Trinity’s first ever victory in any sport with a 7-6 win over rival St. Xavier High School. The football from that game is on display in Trinity’s rotunda.
“I remember not liking football that much because it was too much practicing and not enough games,” Joe said, laughing. “The games were fun, but the practices were tough. I was also very small. I was 5-foot-6. By the time I got to be a senior I was 6-foot-2 and a half.”
“I would say many of my fondest memories are of sports. I was a decent basketball player at Trinity and at Bellarmine. We had a winning record as Trinity freshmen. By the time we were seniors, the basketball team had a wining record while playing against established schools.”
In May 1957, Trinity’s first graduation ceremony was held in Freedom Hall at the then-new Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center.
“I don’t think many people thought of us being the first graduating class, although we’ve been reminded of it many times,” Joe said. “It means more now that time has gone by than it did at that time. As a kid, the significance of it became more and more significant because my graduation was always tied with being the first graduate of Trinity High School.”
After graduating from Trinity, Joe attended Bellarmine University (formerly Bellarmine College). He played basketball for the Knights. During his senior year, Joe worked part-time at Gateway Press, making plates for the printing presses. After earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1962, he was promoted to sales and advanced to the role of vice president of sales. He also became a member of the board of directors and a stockholder. Joe worked for Gateway for 43 years until he retired. Gateway grew to become one of the largest printing companies in the Southeast.
“Our biggest customer was the Columbia House record club,” Joe said. “We printed about 13 million copies of those per month. Our most significant client locally was Churchill Downs.”
Joe’s involvement with Trinity has been nearly lifelong. He has served on his class reunion planning committee and participated in the Alumni Phonathon for financial aid.
Joe also is a regular donor to the Trinity Annual Fund. All contributions are used for financial aid. Over 43% of Trinity students receive financial aid, so it’s crucial to many of our families.
“I give because of the fond memories I have of Trinity,” Joe said. “One thing that’s so significant is it was just freshmen our first year. The next year we became sophomores, and another freshman class was added. We were the first for so many things."
“I have a lot of great memories of teachers and schoolmates,” Joe continued. “I remember it all very well. Still to this day, I speak very fondly of it.”
Joe and his wife, Connie, have three children – Jeff (Trinity, 1984), Greg (Trinity, 1986) and Karen (Sacred Heart) – and six grandchildren. Joe and Connie have been married 58 years.
Share an alumni story!
Do you know a Trinity alumnus with a compelling story? Please reach out to Travis Wagoner '90, Alumni Relations & Communications Director, at 502-736-2122 or wagoner@trinityrocks.com.
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