Leo High School - Leo Lion Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

Page 23 text:

25 earri 0 olhao!eMAilo 0 900 0 Right Reverend Reverend Father Patrick I. Molloy Monsignor Peter F. Shewbridge also the National Catholic Championship at Loyola. Noted players were Farrell, Baranow- ski, and Baggott. The Lights, meanwhile, 'won both the Catholic Title and the Fenwick Tourney through such stars as Buane, O'1-lalloran, and Richards. Whitey Cronin's powerful eleven trounced Fenwick 20-0, and crushed Tilden 46- 13 for the All-City Championship. l..eo's scoring in the later game set an all time record in the Prep Bowl. Baranowski, Hanlon, and Kelly were some of the many stars here. ln the following years the Lion eleven won All-City again in 1942, and the Catholic Title in 1947. Some of the stars of these years were Arneberg, McAuliffe, Thomas, Dunlap, lohnson, Prassa, and Bob Smith. The Lightweight Bas- ketball team won the Fenwick Tourney twice 4 in 1946 and 1948, and under Brother Finch, the City Championships in 1945, 1947, 1948, and 1949. A few notable players were Fesmond, Koslowski, Moskal, Shannon, Lampkin, and Sheehan. The l-leavies won the 1942 St. George Tournament and the Catholic Champ- ionship under Varnes. Coach loe Gleason's Heavies won the South Section crowns in 1945, 1947, 1948, and 1949. Outstanding aces for this period were Davsen, Dick Collins, Dan Bagley, Skraby, and Strasser. The War put a new test to Leo's mettle. The school responded whole heartedly. Many graduates entered the Armed Forces, offering the supreme sacrifice. New courses were added to include the rapidly changing needs of technological warfare. A quickened pace in teaching enabled part of the class of '44 to graduate in lanuary of that year. Leo has remained ahead culturally and scientifically with full use of its modern labora- tories and spacious classrooms. yy The library has grown to contain several thousand books. The school standards have received the highest rating scholastically, and scholarships are even more numerous than before. Through these years Monsignor Shew- bridge continued his unceasing effort in behalf of the school, working with the principals and brothers whole-heartedly. ln 1946, he was made Domestic Prelate as a reward for his heroic labors at St. l..eo's. After his sudden death in May 1950, Father Molloy courageously took over the large responsibility of St. Leo's pastorate. The graduates of Leo, now numbering over 3500, have been successful in every field. The responsibility for this and many other achieve- ments rests upon the faithful and continuous work of the brothers to instruct the boys mater- ially as well as spiritually. The ideal of a Catholic education lies in the complete and harmonious development of the whole man. The moral and cultural growth of the individual added to the attainment of physical and social capabilities forms the basis of Catholic educa- tion. This is the aim which the principals and teachers have constantly stressed in order to make the Leo graduate a man in every way. The first twenty-five years of Leo's exist- ence have been splendid beyond all compari- son. We hope that through unfaltering coop- eration outside the school, and especially through school spirit within, the name of Leo will continue to shine out across the world as a great educational institution. 419V

Page 22 text:

E The Most Reverend His Eminence George Cardinal Mundelein Samuel Cardinal Stritch The long foreseen need of a centralized Catholic high school to bring the blessings of a Catholic education within reach of all the boys on Chicago's South Side, was realized on September 7, 1926. On that date Leo opened its newly completed classrooms to one hundred twenty-two eager Bennies. Monsignor Shew- bridge, pastor of St. Leo's, had labored and planned ardently before securing the consent of His Eminence Cardinal Mundelein to under- take the tremendous responsibility. Finally, on October 31, l926, this great Prince of the Church dedicated the new school and prophe- sied for it a splendid future. Monsignor Shewbridge had lived his whole life in Chicago, watching it grow from a city of wood and mud to a concrete and steel metropo- lis. Ordainedin l896, he was appointed to St. Leo's in l9l8. He vigorously attacked the many problems of a large parish besides building and maintaining a high school plus founding Leo's Shewbridge Stadium, one of the finest athletic fields in the city. One of Monsignors most urgent needs was for a superior teaching order to inculcate the students of Leo with the highest form of a Catholic and a cultural education. To this end, the Christian Brothers of lreland succeeded re- markably. Under the able guidance of its first principal, Brother Doorley, and his competent assistants, Brothers Grangel, O'Donnell, and Filehne, Leo firmly established its position in the Catholic High School system. The noted tradition and reputation of this new institution of higher learning was growing rapidly. The first graduation was in l93U. The 4185 Archbishop of Chicago ensuing years each brought new records in en- rollment and scholarship. Countless clubs, or- ganizations, and socials characterized the early years of the school. Full education, religiously, mentally, physically, and socially was not neglected. ln 1927, Leo won its first trophy, defeating St. George 21-U in football. The March of Champions began in l933 with Leo winning the Catholic Lightweight Basketball Title under Coaches Mr. Vaughan and Brother Loftus. No time was lost in gathering more trophies into the Lions' Lair with Leo netting three Catholic League Football and three Catholic Basketball titles in the next four years. Besides proficiency in athletics, Leo stu- dents were winning coveted scholarships to Chicagoland universities, attesting the superior teaching of the brothers. Monsignor Shew- bridge continued his enthusiastic support of school athletics, founded the Cisca organization among the students, and continued his spiritual care of the Leo boys. The Oriole, the Lion, the band, the dramatic club, and the athletic teams have grown with the school to a first place among Catholic schools. The Fathers' Club and the Mothers' Club, since the earliest days, have exhibited fervent loyalty to Leo and to the Brothers. Their wonderful cooperation and assistance has helped Leo's growth. ln l94l the new fourth story was opened to care for the swelling enrollments by students from every South Side parish. Our greatest year in sports was l94l. Coached by Vince Dowd, the Heavyweight basketball team won the Catholic League Championship, defeating St. George 40-22, and

Page 24 text:

25 eams o 64145 fian glcluca fion Br. l. I. Doorley Br. M. S. Curtis Br. P. E. O'Rycm Br. P. D. McCarthy Br. I. H. Vaughan Rev. Brother Patrick A. Gleeson Provincial ol the Irish Christian Brothers Br. I. l. Doorley was the first principal of Leo High School. Heading the faculty of four brothers in 1926, he succeeded in establishing the school on a firm basis. After leaving Leo, he became an assistant to the Pro- vincial of the lrish Christian Brothers and is now teach- ing at the Brothers' school in Buenos Aires. Br. M. S. Curtis became principal in 1929. During his six years at this post, Leo grew rapidly and became one of the foremost schools in the city and a major con- tender in all sports in the Catholic League. He left Leo in 1935 for the West Coast, where he died luly 15, 1936. May he rest in peace. Br. P. E. O'Hyan succeeded Brother Curtis. He had taught Latin and History at Leo in 1933, two years prior to becoming principal. Brother O'Ryan, during his tenure here, expressly advocated scholarship and discipline and aided in building the tradition of the school to an even higher level. He left in 1941 to be- come principal of Cardinal Farley Military Academy in New York. He is now in lona High School, New York. Brother O'Ryan Was replaced by Br. P. D. McCar- thy in 1941. Brother McCarthy was on the staff some years before, having taught physics and mathematics from 1930-32. During the troubled war years, Br. Mc- Carthy capably carried on the task of increasing the students' religious and cultural appreciation. He left Leo in 1947 and is now in lona College, New York. Br. I. H. Vaughan, our present principal, as- sumed duties here in 1947, after being principal at Power Memorial Academy, New York. He has stressed the attainment of Catholic leadership through scholar- ship and extra-curricular activities, thereby maintain- ing the traditions and the high standards of Leo.