Man of the Year 1996
Robert J. Sheehy Class of ' 71

This Leo Hall of Fame member comes to us from St. Thomas More Parish. After graduation from Leo, Bob Sheehy attended Purdue University where he obtained his degree in Industrial Management in 1975. He then went on the Worsham Mortuary College completing his work there in 1976.

Our Man of the Year leaves behind a rich legacy at Leo High School. Bob played four years of basketball, two with the Bantams and two with the Heavies. He played baseball his freshmen and senior years. Participating in the Catholic League All-Star Game at Comiskey Park in his senior year.

It is football where Bob received his greatest athletic recognition. In his senior year he helped to lead the Lions to an overall record of 9-2 including an undefeated regular season of 7 wins with no losses. At the end of the season he was honored by being named to the All-Catholic League and All-State Teams, receiving the prestigious Tony Lawless Award, and being named to the Parade Magazine and Coaches’ All American Teams! He went on to continue his football career at Purdue while earning his degree.

Bob did not forget his Alma Mater after graduation. In 1981 he became active in the Alumni Association as soon after served as out president from 1982 to 1984. While serving as president, Bob was responsible fro starting the Alumni Smokers and Golf Outing. The Cadillac Raffle was begun under his direction. During the years this raffle was held it generated in excess of $150,000 for Leo High School. He continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the Association.

Bob is president of the Robert J. Sheehy & Sons Funeral Homes. Along with Brother Jim ’77 they maintain two facilities – one located in Burbank, with the newest home being built on Orland Park. He is also very active in the community, professional, and charitable organizations. Bob is serving on the Board of Directors of the Burbank Unit of American Cancer Society after having been its president, and is a charter member and director of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce. He is the Executive Vice President of the Funeral Directors Association of Greater Chicago. This member of the Father Perez Knights of Columbus has also recently helped to find as serve as a director of The Mulliganeers, a charitable group.

Bob and his wife Kathleen live in Orland Park with their two sons Matthew (10), and Brenden (7). Their lads attend St. Michael’s Grammar School and are avid hockey players.

Congratulations to this most worthy recipient of our association’s highest honor.

Hall of Fame 1996
Frank McGuire Class of ' 48

No Photo Available

Frank McGuire's primary school days were spent at St. Leo Grammar School. He went on to Leo High School, graduating in 1948. Frank starred on the football field all of his four years at Leo, starting on the varsity team as a sophomore running back under the guidance of the legendary Joe Gleason. Frank led the 1947 Lions to the City Championship Prep Bowl Game against Austin High School. That year Frank was elected to the 1947 All-Chicago-Area Football Team by both the Chicago Daily News and Herald American as well as being elected to the Catholic All-Star Team. Frank also played on the Lightweight Varsity Basketball Team for three years that was coached by Brother Frances Finch. The 1948 team won the Lightweight City Championship.

After graduating from Leo, Frank spent two years at St. Mary’s College in Oakland California before joining the United States Army from 1950 to 52. Frank, and his wife, Mary Fran were married for over 40 years, raising six children together (Pat, Mike, Phil, Tim, Dan and Nancy). He was active in the community, spending many years coaching children in the Midlothian area. Among the groups that he belonged to were: Midlothian Wildcats Youth Football, Youth Baseball, Girls Softball and the St. Christopher Basketball team. This Leo graduate personified the school motto: Deeds not Word, and is a worthy selection to our Hall of Fame.

Frank McGuire '48 (Posthumously)

Hall of Fame 1996
James O Halloran Class of ' 42

Jim O’Halloran is another in a long line of great athletes who matriculated at our alma mater. An honor student, Jim played on the Championship Leo Basketball Teams of 1940-41, and 1941-42 seasons. He led the Catholic League in scoring in 1942. From St. Brendan’s Parish, he played on Leo’s National Championship Team that won the last Loyola Championship Tournament.

Jim went on to play and graduate from the University of Notre Dame where he was a starter on the basketball team for three years. He played in their game against the Harlem Globetrotters. He went on to tryout for the Chicago Stags of the NBA where he was the last player cut.

Jim spent several years with the Rival Dog Food Company, becoming its manager of purchasing. He is survived by his widow Eleanor and his five sons; James, Michael, Terrence, Kevin and Thomas.

Jim is widely remembered for his exploits at Leo even though he has passed onto his eternal reward. His induction into the Leo Hall of Fame will ensure that he is never forgotten.

Hall of Fame 1996
Richard Boyle Class of ' 57

Richard Boyle attended Barnard Grammar School, graduating in 1953. At Leo, Rich starred on the football team all four years. He was on the varsity from his sophomore year on and led the 1956 group of Lions to the City Championship where he earned MVP honors for the Prep Bowl. That year Rich was also named to the Illinois All-Star Team.

“Mr. Inside” received a scholarship to play football at the University of Notre Dame and graduated from Loyola University in 1962. In 1960 Rich joined Steiner Company as an assistant to the sales manager for the Industrial Paper manufacturer. He became a registered stock broker in 1964 when he joined the Wall Street firm of Hornblower and Weeks, later joining Bacon Whipple and Company. From 1974 to the present Rich has been with Purdy Company. He currently holds the title of Vice President-Plant and Sales for the railroad parts remanufactured and scrap steel processor.

Down in South Bend, Rich met his future wife, Ann, who was attending St. Mary’s High School and Barat College. They were married in July of 1960 and have four sons (Michael, Matthew, Mark and Kevin) and a daughter, Tracy. They have a two year old grandson and another grandchild on the way. This Beverly resident has long been a supporter of Leo High School and the Alumni Association. Congratulations Rich and welcome to the Hall of Fame!

Hall of Fame 1996
Joseph Byerwalter Class of ' 50

Joe Byerwalter graduated from St. Kilian grade school in 1946 before following his three brothers to Leo. Bob is from the class of ’39, George ’41 and the late Jack is from the class of ’45. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology where he starred on the basketball team and still holds all scoring records at IIT. He was a Division II College Basketball All-American for the 1953-54 season. His number has been retired and the banner hangs in the IT gym. From IIT Joe went on to the University of Chicago receiving an MBA in 1958.

In 1960, Joe joined United Airlines where he was to stay for the next twenty-eight years in headquarters and division management positions. In 1975 Joe managed the Western Division of UAL which was responsible for a thirteen state domestic and nine country international divisions with representation in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, Canada and Mexico. This was the largest division in the company with $1.6 billion dollars in sales and over ten thousand employees under Joe’s management. From 1985 to 1988 Joe directed the effort by United Airlines to integrate Hertz, United, Westin Hotels and Mileage Plus intone global, integrated travel concept.

Joe retired from United in 1988 and is currently Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Eureka Bank in Foster City, California. He has served on the boards of many civic and business organizations throughout the years. While working in San Francisco he was Vice-Chairman of the “Save the Cable Cars” committee and thanks to Joe’s successful efforts we all can still enjoy the cable cars when we visit the Bay area. He has been a long-time supporter of Leo High School and is a deserving addition to its Hall of Fame. Congratulations Joe!

Hall of Fame 1996
Robert Coogan Class of '

No Photo Available

Former Faculty Member, Bob Coogan taught at out alma mater from 1954 to 1965. This former coach of our Flyweight and Bantamweight basketball teams also served in the athletic director’s office. Bob initiated efforts to spread the message and mission of Leo High School to young grammar school students in the process of determining where they would pursue their high school careers. He also served as President of the Catholic League while at Leo. It is fitting that the 1968 Leo Yearbook was dedicated in his honor.

This distinguished academician is currently a Professor of English at the University of Maryland. Dr. Coogan received his B.A. from Iona College in 1954; his M.A. from DePaul University in 1958; and his Ph.D. from Loyola University in 1967.

Bob has had two books published. Babylon on the Phone: A Translation with Introduction of Letters by Dante, Petrarch, and Catherine of Sienna on the Avignon Papacy was published in 1983. Erasmus, Lee, and the Corrections of the Vulgate: The Shaking of the Foundations was published in 1992. He is the author of several other publications. Bob has received numerous fellowships and awards and is a member of the Renaissance Society of America, AMICI Thomas Mori, and the International Neo-Latin Society.

Bob resides in College Park, Maryland with his wife Mercy Hardie Coogan and two sons; Martin Hardie Coogan and Daniel Barret Coogan. For those of us who were privileged to have studied under Bob Coogan’s tutelage we know how well deserving he is of this honor. He is a welcome member to the Leo High School Hall of Fame.

Hall of Fame 1996
John R. Howard Class of ' 61

Our former president graduated from Leo in 1961 after going to Little Flower Grammar School. Jack Howard received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1965 and followed it with graduate work at the University of Illinois at Champaign. He served a two year stint in the Marine Corp from 1967 to 1969.

Jack became actively involved in the Alumni Association when the class of 1961 celebrated their 25^th Anniversary in 1986. It was a good thing for us that he did for he has been one of the hardest working members of the Association ever since, serving four years as president from 1990 to 1994 and is currently Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association and is on the Board of Directors of Leo High School. During his term as president Jack revived the dormant of golf outing, baseball trip, and alumni smokers.

Jack is President of Howard and Associates, a company which sells a variety of products and services into the manufacturing marketplace; formulates Business and Marketing Plans; and Brokers the purchase of consumer debt instruments of all types.

He and his lovely wife, Joan live in Hickory Hills. Joan has provided invaluable assistance to the Alumni Association for many years. Son Jack and his beautiful wife Tricia will be making the Howards grandparents for the first time in late April of this year. Congratulations Jack on your induction into the Hall of Fame.