Leo Catholic High School
Encyclopedia
Leo Catholic High School is an all-male Catholic
high school
in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, United States
. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
and home to a predominantly African–American student body. The school is named in honor of Pope Leo XIII.
and St. Laurence High School. As a sign of respect for Leo, Brother Rice took the orange in addition to maroon for its school colors, and St. Laurence took black in addition to gold for their schools. Brother Rice and St. Laurence are often called "Sons of Leo."
. The school also competes in state championship tournaments sponsored by the Illinois High School Association
(IHSA).
These teams have finished in the top four of their respective IHSA state tournament:
The school was initially known for its football team, which made 8 appearances in Chicago's Prep Bowl, which pitted the champion of the Catholic League against the winner from the Chicago Public League from 1934 to 1956. The 1941, 42 and 56 teams won Prep Bowl city championships at Soldier Field
.
In particular, the 1937 and 1941 Prep Bowls are recognized as holding the state of Illinois' all-time records for attendance at a football game. The 1937 attendance was estimated at 110,000 spectators, which saw Leo lose to Austin High School, 26–0. The 1941 game saw 95,000 spectators watch Leo defeat Tilden High School, 46–13. The 1940 and 42 games each had 75,000 fans, meaning Leo has played in front of four of the 11 largest crowds in Illinois high school history.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago was established as a diocese in 1843 and as an Archdiocese in 1880. It serves more than 2.3 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Northeastern Illinois, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries...
and home to a predominantly African–American student body. The school is named in honor of Pope Leo XIII.
History
Established in 1926 by the Christian Brothers of Ireland, their first school in Chicago, Leo Catholic High School has educated thousands of boys from Chicago's South Side and suburbs. The first graduate was Joe Levine Mallobutski.School Colors
The school colors are black and orange. Since Leo was founded, the Christian Brothers of Ireland have established two more boys schools, Brother Rice High SchoolBrother Rice High School (Chicago)
Brother Rice High School is an all-male, Catholic, college preparatory institution located in Chicago, Illinois, and is administered under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago...
and St. Laurence High School. As a sign of respect for Leo, Brother Rice took the orange in addition to maroon for its school colors, and St. Laurence took black in addition to gold for their schools. Brother Rice and St. Laurence are often called "Sons of Leo."
Athletics
Since its founding in 1926, Leo has competed in the Chicago Catholic LeagueChicago Catholic League
The Chicago Catholic League is a high school athletic conference based in Chicago, Illinois, USA. All of the schools are currently part of the Illinois High School Association, the governing body for Illinois scholastic sports...
. The school also competes in state championship tournaments sponsored by the Illinois High School Association
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
(IHSA).
These teams have finished in the top four of their respective IHSA state tournament:
- basketball: 4th place (1997–98); State Champions (2003–04)
- track & field: 3rd place (1982–83, 2000–01, 04–05); 2nd place (1999–2000, 03–04); State Champions (1980–81, 94–95, 97–98, 2001–02, 02–03, 10-11)
The school was initially known for its football team, which made 8 appearances in Chicago's Prep Bowl, which pitted the champion of the Catholic League against the winner from the Chicago Public League from 1934 to 1956. The 1941, 42 and 56 teams won Prep Bowl city championships at Soldier Field
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
.
In particular, the 1937 and 1941 Prep Bowls are recognized as holding the state of Illinois' all-time records for attendance at a football game. The 1937 attendance was estimated at 110,000 spectators, which saw Leo lose to Austin High School, 26–0. The 1941 game saw 95,000 spectators watch Leo defeat Tilden High School, 46–13. The 1940 and 42 games each had 75,000 fans, meaning Leo has played in front of four of the 11 largest crowds in Illinois high school history.
Notable alumni
- Harold Blackmon (class of 1996) was an NFL linebackerLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Seattle SeahawksSeattle SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
(2001–02). - Andre BrownAndre BrownAndre D. Brown is an American professional basketball player. He is a 6'9" tall center or power forward.-High school/college career:Brown played at Leo High School and DePaul University, both in Chicago....
(class of 2000) is an NBA forward (2006–present). - Jason JeffersonJason JeffersonJason Jefferson is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
(class of 1998) is a defensive lineman for the Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(2005–present). - Thomas MurphyThomas Murphy (chairman)Thomas Aquinas Murphy was former CEO of General Motors during the 1970s.Murphy began with GM as a clerk in the controller's office after graduating in 1938 from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in accountancy. During World War II, Murphy served in the Navy for three years before returning to...
was Chairman and CEO of General MotorsGeneral MotorsGeneral Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
Corporation (1974–80). - Chris WatsonChris Watson (American football)Chris Watson is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League. He played for the Denver Broncos, the Buffalo Bills, and the Detroit Lions.-College years:...
(class of 1995) was an NFL defensive backDefensive backIn American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
(1999–2003). - Timothy McCarthy former U.S. Secret Service Agent who took a bullet for President Ronald Reagan during the 1981 assisination attempt.