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After
graduation from Leo, Bill started his long relationship with the
Jesuits. He attended Marquette University for his first two years of
college and Loyola his last two years. It
was in the mids 1950's, after trying his hand at multiple industry jobs, Bill
got married and opened his first car dealership on the same day.
Fifty-three years later through commitment to customer satisfaction and
teamwork, Bill still heads the famous Bill Kay Group. Bill has enjoyed
success and adventure in his life. An avid traveler, volunteer,
philanthropist and motivational speaker, he was reintroduced to the Jesuits a
few years ago. While leaving church one day Bill picked up a copy of
the bulletin. Inside was a mention of a volunteer opportunity though
the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) a Jesuit ministry that provides men and
women, aged 50 and older, opportunities to serve others and transform
lives. Bill applied and became a member. He was placed at Family
Focus in Aurora, Illinois, which is a comprehensive family support system for
Spanish speaking families. Bill teaches English there twice a week and
serves as a motivation for those he educates, reinterating to them that hard
work and education go hand in hand. When Bill first set out on this
challenge he was chagrined that he did not speak Spanish. He secured a
tutor and now is able to communicate more easily with his coworkers and
those he serves. Recently,
Bill visited one of the ministries he supports. St. Aloysius Gonzaga
Secondary School, in Nairobi, Kenya. St. Al's is the world's first high
school for Aids orphans. Not only was he present for the ground
breaking for the new high school, Bill gave a motivational speech, then physically
chipped in with the labor to start construction. At that occasion Bill said,
"I don't just want to write checks, I like to do something." Do
something is what he has always done for his alma mater Leo High
School. He is a strong supporter of Bob Foster and is a very generous
donor to the school. Congratulations
Bill to you and your family. You truly exemplify The Leo High School
Alumni Association Man of the Year. Community
Service 2009
Shortly
after graduating from Leo, Jack was approached by Father Edmund Burke of
St. Leo Parish to coach the Leo Grade School football team. Father
Burke informed Jack that if he did not accept the coaching challenge it could
mean the boys would not be able to participate. Thus began a 50-year
commitment to community service. Jack
coached and coordinated athletic programs at both Leo Grade School and Our
Lady of Loretto Parish. He was active in parents clubs at both St.
Lawrence and Queen of Peach High School during his children's high school
years. In
1998, Jack was asked to follow his brother Jim (Leo '69) as the Chairman of
the United Cerebal Palsy Association Fund Raising Campaign, a yearlong
projectincluded an all-day national telethon. The Campaign was so
successful that they asked him to contribute his time and talent in the
following year’s campaign as well. In
2000, Allstate Insurance, with which Jack has maintained a forty-year
relationship, created the Ray Lynch Award that honored the agency owner that
best exemplified community service. Out of over 1500 candidates Jack
was chosen as the Award's first recipient. In
recent years Jack has contributed to the success of local community projects
such as San Miguel, non-profit schools that service economically
disadvantaged children in Chicago's inner city neighborhoods. Because
of his involvment with San Miguel, he was presented with the Christian
Brothers LaSallian Award. The President of San Miguel's Schools wrote a
heartfelt endorsement supporting Jack's credentials. Here are just a
few of the things Brother Ed Sideerewics FSC had to say about Jack. Jack
has spearheaded a golf benefit to raise scholarship dollars for inner-city
students. "Cumulatively, Jack's efforts are nearing one-half
million dollars through this event alone." He goes on to state
that jack is literally an angel to these kids. However, he does this in
a quiet and humble way that highlights the extraordinary efforts of the
students and families rather than his own. Brother Ed goes on to
conclude, "because of Jack's efforts, the lives of hundreds of kids have
been saved and changed. Two of our most economically impoverished
neighborhoods in Chicago at least have new anchors of light today to bring
hopw and opportunity to those most in need." Jack
and his wife of 46 years, Mickey, are most proud of their four children, all
of whom realize the importance of providing help for those less
fortunate. Jack's appeal to all is to get involved. If you do you
will never regret doing something for others. Think
about all of the above, couldn't you sum it all up with one motto,
"Facta non verba". Congratualtions
Jack Hallberg. Doc
Driscoll Award 2009
Jim
came to Leo from St. Thoams More Parish. While at Leo he was a class
officer for 2 years, was involved in sutdent aid for two years, the tennis
club and in cheerleading his senior year. After graduating from Leo,
Jim divided his next five years as a student at St. Mary's Colelge in Winona,
Minnesota and Loyola University of Chicago. He worked his way through
school delivering 7-up products, then Budweiser and tending bar. In
September of 1966, he received his notice to report for induction into the
service in October of 1966. Like so many other Leo graduates he
reported for duty and served proudly for four years. Jim attained the
rank of Captain before ending his military career. While in Vietnam as
a combat platoon leader, he had the honor of serving in one of our greatest
regiments, the 22nd Infantry Regiment and the 25th Infantry Division.
Jim considers the 22nd Regiment Leo's Regiment; since its motto is
"Deeds not Words". Ever hear that before? Jim
continued his education after getting out of the Army. He received a
Bachelor of Electronics Engineering Technology from DeVry Institute of
Technology. He completed the four years with a perfect attendance
record and was the class Salutorian. Jim
has been active in the Leo Alumni Association for over 20 years now. If
there is any event this association runs be it the banquet, the golf outing,
basketball outing, etc., you can count on the fact that Jim played a major
role in the success of that particular event. When
I took over the precidency of this association three years ago, I knew Jim
was a workaholic dedicated to our group. But, I have stated countless
times over the last three years I had no idea whatsoever how much Jim
does. A major reason for that is Jim works hard but quietly. he is not lookinf for credit or accolades. Jim keeps
charge of our mailing records which includes thousands of Leo grads many of
whom move each year. He is in charge and works singlehandedly on the
banquet ad book. He secures ads, proof reads them, and gets them to the
printers, makes collections when necessary and countless other things.
I feel if Jim would ever quite doing this job, it would take a 3-4 man
committee to replace him. I'll
bet Doc Driscoll is lookign down tonight with a big smile on his face, an
acknowledgment that yes, we picked a worthy recipient. Hall of Fame 2009
He
has managed from The Rookie League through the Major Leagues. John
managed the Florida Marlins in 1996 and again in 1999-2001. He served
for 13 years as Director of Player Development for the Kansas City
Royals, the Montreal Expos and Florida Marlins. In 1983 John was named
Class A Manager of the Year after guiding the Appleton White Sox to the
Midwest Championship. John
is presently in his fifth year as Special Assistant to the General Manager
with the Seattle Mariners. In
addition to being inducted into the Leo Hall fo Fame, he is a also a member
of: Saint Xavier University Hall of Fame, Lewis University Hall of
Fame, Pitch and Hit Club Baseball Executive of the Year, Major League manager
of the Year by Florida Diamond Club, Appleton Fox Hall of Fame, Lewis
University Distinguished Alumni Award, Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame,
Portland Sea Dogs Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame 2009
After
graduating from Visitation Grammar School, Mike Coyle attended Leo High
School and played on the Flies in his freshman year. The following year
Mike was moved up to the Heavies and in his junior and senior years, Mike
Coyle played on the Leo Lightweights who captured Catholic League
Championships in 1957 and 1958. Upon graduation from Leo, Mike Coyle served
in the US Army with eighteen months in Occupied West Germany. Following
his service to his country, Mike served the students of the Chicago Public
Schools as a Stationary Engineer, followed by seven years as an engineer for
Children's Memorial Hospital. Mike and his Josephine and two sons Brian
and John made their home in St. Alexander's Parish in Palos Heights.
Leo High School is proud to welcome Mike Coyle to 2009 Leo High School Hall
of Fame. Hall of Fame 2009
Upon
graduation Jim played varsity football on an athletic scholarship at St.
Benedict's College, Kansas. Jim's education was interrupted by military
service as he joined the Marine Corp and served in Korea. Upon
discharge from the Marines, Jim became a Cook County Sheriff's Policeman
and later a Chicago Police Officer. In 1963 he joined the Chicago Fire
Department where he stayed until he retired. He had reached the rank of
District Chief. Hall of Fame 2009
John Eckenstein
was raised at 7605 S. Green St. He came to Leo HS from St. Leo Grammar
School. Mr. Eckenstein played football all four years he attended
Leo. After Leo High School, John attended University of Detroit and
later served with the United States Army in Germany from 1955 through
1957. Upon discharge, he went to work in sales with Ziv Steel until
1963. Immediately after this business experience, John went into sales
for the company his father founded in 1925 and continued to work for as a
routes driver - Avalon Petroleum. Taking voer sales and marketing for
Avalon, John continued to help direct company operation and strategies and
all the shile raise his growing family and remain active in Leo Alumni
affairs and support his alma mater. Mr. Eckenstein retired in 1997 and
splits his time between Illinois and Florida. Hall of Fame 2009 Richard L. Furlong
Class of ‘59
Rich
retired after nearly 40 years in the insurance industry, leaving as Assistant
Vice President of the Specialty Operations Claims Dept. of Continental
Casualty Company. He
was a very active member of his community.
In his “spare time” Rich spent 31 years as an IHSA basketball and
football referee. He coached for 15
years at all age levels for the Tinley Park Baseball Association and served
as that organization’s commissioner for twelve of those years. Rich also coached 8th grade boys
basketball for 6 years at St. George’s in Tinley Park and capped off his
career there as the school’s athletic director for two years. It
was 14 years ago that Rich began directing his efforts to Leo High
School. In that time, Rich has served
on the Board of Directors for 14 years, served as Secretary/Treasurer for 9
years, was class captain for the class of 1959’s 40th reunion in
1999 and is presently serving as that class’s class captain for the 50th
reunion. As if that weren’t enough
Rich is presently in this third year as the President of the Leo High School
Alumni Association. Rich
is married to Nanette and has three children, Kelly, Brian and Doug and 8
grandchildren. Hall of Fame 2009 Robert Kman Class
of ‘59
In
1979, Bob left the educational field and opened his own business, Mount
Greenwood Travel Service. He was
active in many church and community organizations and sat on several boards. After 9/11 he closed his travel business
and returned to education. He became
the Assistant Principal at Leo for two years and then became Principal for
two more years. During his tenure, Leo
increased its enrollment, sent a record number of students to college and won
the IHSA Basketball and Track Championships. Bob
moved to Phoenix, AZ in 2005 and is retired. Hall of Fame 2009 Lt. Colonel Thomas
F. O’Dea Jr. Class of ‘44
When
Tom left Leo he attended Loyola University.
However he left there to serve in the Navy in World War II. He later joined the Army and completed his
college education at the University of Maryland. Tom
was an expert in the Chinese Mandarin language. When Korea broke out Tom once again found
himself in a war. When
he went to Vietnam, Tom became one of a very few military men who serve d his
country in three major wars. Lt. Col.
Thomas F. O’Dea Jr. was killed in action in the Republic of Vietnam on
December 25, 1968. He was 42 years of
age at the time of his death. He was
survived by his wife Roberta and four children, Thomas, Cynthia, Theresa and
Sandra. This is a truly wonderful
example of what happened when Duty, Honor, Country meet Facta Non Verba! Hall of Fame 2009 John Q. O’Donnell
Class of ‘68
Upon
graduating from Leo, John received a BBA in Finance and Accounting from
Loyola University. He next attained a
Master of Management degree from the JL Kellogg Graduate School at
Northwestern University. After
university study at Loyola and work in the Chicago business community John
O’Donnell joined the John Buck Company in 1982 and is the company’s President
and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. O’Donnell
has been involved in capital transactions in excess of $8.2 billion through
purchasing, sales, debt and equity financings, joint ventures, and other
financial investments. During
his 26 years with the firm, John has managed acquisitions of many of JBC’s
commercial developments sites: negotiated the acquisition and disposition of
hotels and office buildings. John
O’Donnell has been a longtime and generous supporter of the work being don e
at Leo High School. He also is on the
Board of Directors of the Legacy Charter School. Hall of Fame 2009 Tony Parker Class
of ‘73
Tony
Parker left Leo and became a talented shooting guard at Loyola University in
the mid 1970’s. He then headed across
the Atlantic to pursue his pro hoops dreams.
He played in France after his time with Loyola University and then
went to work as a broadcaster for the Paris office of ESPN. Hall of Fame 2009 Robert Schablaske,
Faculty There
is no biographical information available.
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