Man of the Year 2014
Mr. James "Skip" T. Strzelecki ‘64
A 1964 Leo HS
graduate, Skip came to Leo HS from St. Sabina grammar school. The son of Stan
and Veronica Strzelecki, Skip followed his brother Stan Jr. (Leo HS Class of
1961) to Leo High School.
While at Leo, Skip played
Bantam Basketball as a Freshman and Sophomore. He was
a 3 year Member of the Golf Team which he captained his Senior
year. Skip was a four year performer for
the Mighty Men of Leo Football Team. Following his Senior Season in the Fall of 1963, Skip was awarded the “Football Scholastic
Athlete of the Year.
Following graduation,
Skip matriculated to the University of Notre Dame.
Skip graduated in 1968 with a BBA degree. While at Notre Dame Skip was a two
year member of the University Golf Team. He also was active in Notre Dame’s
legendary intramural football program, where he helped his Sorin
Hall win the 1967 University Championship.
Immediately after his
graduation from Notre Dame Skip went to work for Chicago based Schwarz Paper
Company. Skip’s career at Schwarz Paper
was interrupted by his service in the US ARMY Reserves from 1970-76. While
serving with the Reserves Skip rose to the rank of Sgt. E-5 and worked as an
Instructor for the 5O34 USAR School in Hyde Park. While working in Sales at
Schwarz Paper Skip rose to the position of National Sales Manager before
leaving in 1989 to form his own company, St. Andrews Products, in Michigan
City, Indiana. St. Andrews produces and distributes products for the
Corporate Promotional Product market as well as products for the Golf industry.
As a Licensee of the PGA of America, the PGA TOUR, the Kentucky Derby, and the
BASSMASTER Classic, Skip has helped St. Andrews Products gain a foothold in
many significant events.
As part of his mission at
St. Andrews Products, and in keeping with the values he learned from the
Christian Brothers while at Leo, Skip has made his Company active in Community
and Charitable affairs. Among the organizations he has been involved with
are the Notre Dame Grade School Foundation, the Lou Holtz Foundation, The Ara Parseghian Medical Research
Foundation, and the Kelly Cares Foundation. As a Co-Chair of the IRISH LEGENDS
Golf and Gala, Skip has helped raise over $1,000,000 during the past 7 years.
Skip also serves as an Advisor to the FOLDS OF HONOR Foundation. Through
the efforts of Folds of Honor, over 5000 College Scholarships have been awarded
to the family members of our service men and women who were killed or disabled
in Afghanistan or Iraq.
For his efforts with
Folds of Honor and other charities, Skip received the “Sagamore
of the Wabash” award-Indiana’s highest civilian honor, from Indiana Governor,
Joe Kernan.
In Skip’s words, “The
unwavering belief from my Parents and Grand Parents, and their commitment to
providing me a faith based education is responsible for any success I have had.
Further, the guidance from my Brother, Friend, Hero, and Mentor, Stan
Strzelecki (Leo Class of 1961) was what led me to two of the greatest
institutions in the world—Leo High School and the University of Notre Dame. I
have eternal thanks to the Irish Christian Brothers for giving that foundation
of faith and service to all us Men of Leo.”
Skip lives in Michigan
City, Indiana. Besides his brother Stan and sister-in-law Kathleen, his family
includes his 4 nieces Anne Marie, Nancy, Elizabeth, Molly Veronica and 2 grand
nephews, Duncan and Eamon.
Congratulations to all of the Golden Class of
1964!
Doctor Thomas P. Driscoll Award 2014
Mr. Michael Holmes ‘76
Michael Holmes graduated
from Leo Catholic High School in 1976. As an Honor Roll student, he
received numerous accolades in baseball and football, including All-Catholic
League and All-State honors in baseball, and All Catholic League, All-Area and
All-State Football Team, and Parade and New World Magazines All-American
Football Team honors.
Michael first attended
the University of Colorado in Boulder where he earned All-Big
Eight freshman and sophomore team honors. He then transferred to the University
of Illinois where he led the Fighting Illini in rushing, receiving and
touchdowns and earned Second Team All-Big Ten Honors. He signed as a free
agent with the Buffalo Bills but a knee injury prevented him from pursuing his
NFL dreams. He ended his playing career in the U. S. Football League with
the Chicago Fire, playing in the Championship in 1981.
Following a stellar
career with the City of Chicago Department of Housing as Director of several
programs under former Mayors Harold Washington and Richard M. Daley, Michael
left the City to join the staff at his beloved alma mater, Leo Catholic High
School where he has been a history teacher, Dean of Students, Dean of
Admissions and Head Sophomore and Varsity Football Coach. As Head Varsity
Football Coach, he has received the Tony Lawless Award for Coach of the Year
four times, winning Conference Championships and advancing to State
Play-offs. During a short stint with the Chicago Public Schools, he won
two CPS Division Championships and was named Coach of the Year by Prep
Magazine. Coach Holmes is best known for developing outstanding student
athletes and assisting them in matriculating to college and beyond, including
having trained six students who went on to play in the NFL and hundreds more
who have become great young men.
Coach Holmes is currently Vice President of
Institutional Advancement, Director of Admissions and Head Varsity Football
coach at Leo H.S.
Community Service Award 2014
Mr. Sam R. Leno ‘63
After completing a 40 year career in business, Sam retired as the Chief
Operations Officer of Boston Scientific at the end of 2011. Prior to that he
was the Chief Financial Officer of 5 public companies, including Boston
Scientific, Zimmer Holdings, Arrow Electronics, Corporate Express and Coram
Healthcare. He also held a wide variety
of financial management positions during his 24 years with Baxter Healthcare
and American Hospital Supply Corporation.
Prior to beginning his business career, Sam served as a U.S. Naval Officer
and is a Vietnam veteran.
Sam currently serves as a Director and member of the Audit Committee of
Omnicare Inc., Director and Audit Chair of Lantheus
Medical Imaging, Inc., Chairman of Zest Anchors, and Director of Endotronix. He is
also a member of the Advisory Board of the Harvard Business School Healthcare
Initiative. Previously he served as a
Director and member of the Audit and Finance Committees of TomoTherapy.
Inc.
He holds a B.S in Accounting from Northern Illinois University and a
Masters in Business Administration from Roosevelt University. He is a ’63 Leo High School graduate.
Sam and his wife
Pamela are enjoying retirement and reside in the Boston area. They have 3
children and 4 grandchildren.
Hall of Fame 2014
His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I
In 2011, Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I
Archbishop of Chicago accepted membership in the Leo Alumni Association. Cardinal George took a leadership role in the
Lion Express to Opportunity Campaign as co-Chair with Sam Leno ‘63 and raised
more than $ 100,000 in one month’s time providing the capital to purchase two
new buses and up-grade the transportation need for Leo High School.
More significantly, Francis Cardinal George
took a hand in counseling a number of Leo students who have been undergoing
great stress due to their home lives and influences beyond the school. The Archbishop of Chicago would call on
regular basis and ask, “How is Tim doing?
Is He giving any indication of troubles?
Tell you what. Bring Joe, or Bob up to the residence this morning at 9
A.M. and I’ll clear an hour from my schedule.”
Leo students were helped through great
emotional crises and treated with the ministering heart of priest who knows his
business. Cardinal George is genuinely
concerned with primary focus and attention of the Leo Alumni Association and
Leo High School – the well-being and education of our students in the Catholic
tradition.
The following is from his official biography:
“Cardinal Francis George is the first Chicago native to become Archbishop
of Chicago. Installed in May 1997, he arrived by way of the west coast, where
he had spent less than a year as Archbishop of Portland, Oregon, and five years
as Bishop of Yakima, Washington. He is the thirteenth Ordinary of Chicago since
its establishment as a diocese in 1843.
The northwest side native, a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary
Immaculate, is the sixth Cardinal to lead the Chicago Archdiocese's 2.3 million
Catholics. He has assumed a prominent position among U.S. bishops, serving as
the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2007 to
2010. His pastoral leadership encompasses international and national
audiences.”
That tells little about the frank, witty
and generous man lives the gospels with fierce conviction and gentle
stewardship. Cardinal George is always
there for his fellow Leo Men and their families. When new vehicles were purchased, His
Eminence made time in his busy schedule in order to celebrate and bless the
vehicles and young men who be conveyed in them.
Not a week goes by, without a call or note from Francis Cardinal George
to Leo High School – Facta Non Verba. It is with great pride and enthusiasm that Leo
High School welcomes Francis Cardinal George to the 2014 Hall of Fame Class.
Hall of Fame 2014
Very Rev. David J. Hankus, D.Min.,
Ph.D. ‘73
David J. Hankus graduated from Seven Holy
Founders Elementary School in Calumet Park and entered Leo High School in
1969. While at Leo, David was a member
of the swim team, science club, Oriole staff and was
on the honor roll all four years, graduating in 1973. His brother, Richard, graduated from Leo in
1976.
David earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Lewis University
in 1977 and completed seminary studies at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in
Mundelein, Illinois. From the seminary
university, he received the Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology, Master of Divinity
and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Degrees. In December of 2012, he successfully defended
his doctoral thesis at the Graduate Theological Foundation in Mishawaka,
Indiana. He was awarded the Doctor of
Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Theological Studies.
His dissertation, titled “Blessed Columba Marmion
and His Understanding of the Role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Life of a
Roman Catholic Priest: An Aid to
Developing a Spirituality for Diocesan Priests in Parochial Ministry,” was
published in book form in 2013.
Father Hankus was ordained a priest for the
Joliet Diocese in 1984 by Bishop Joseph Imesch. He served as an associate pastor at St.
Walter Parish in Roselle and Christ the King Parish in Lombard. He was pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in
Bolingbrook for eleven years and oversaw the building of the new church while
he was there. He was pastor of St. Anne
Parish in Oswego for 5 years. In 2013 he
was appointed pastor of St. James the Apostle Parish in Glen Ellyn.
Father Hankus has served on various diocesan
committees such as the Presbyteral Council (advisory
board to the Bishop), cluster chairperson and clergy personnel board. He was appointed dean of the West
Will/Kendall/Grundy Deanery consisting of twenty parishes. In being appointed dean, he was given the
title “Very Reverend.” He is a member of
the Newman Institute Advisory Board and represents the Diocese of Joliet on the
University Committee of that board.
Father Hanks has
always believed that he received an excellent education at Leo High School and
that it was an important “stepping stone” in his journey towards the
priesthood. He feels truly honored to be
admitted to the Leo High School Hall of Fame and is most grateful to the
nominating committee.
Hall of Fame 2014
Mr. Terrence J. Kenney ‘46
Terrence J.
Kenney was born in 1927, two years prior to the Great Depression, the eldest
child of Esther and Terrence Kenney, neither of who had completed the 8th
grade, let alone high school, but to whom a Catholic education was fundamental.
Like many families of that era, the Kenney’s went where the rent was
affordable, thus landing in St. Sabina Parish from where Terry graduated. He
then set his sights on Leo High School because, as he remembers, Leo was #1 in
everything! Terry fondly recalls leaving his 74th Place home each
morning, donning a Leo letterman jacket sporting a football letter and pins
earned as a starting guard, picking up friends on May, Aberdeen, and Carpenter
Streets before arriving at the 79th and Peoria Street Leo campus
with a gang of 8 to 11 guys. Terry recollects the same Leo crowd gathering to
grab a Top Notch burger or maybe a Rosebowl ice cream
after a home football or basketball game. In January of 1946 Leo HS allowed
Terry to graduate early via an accelerated program of study, so that he and
those classmates could join the last draft of WWII. The silver lining here was
that this last draft class received the GI bill enabling Terry to attend Loyola
College where he earned a business degree and a skill set well suited to
building a successful career in the construction business. In 1952 he went on
to marry the love of his life, Eileen Duhig and they
raised three children, Maureen, Terry, and Kathleen. Moreover, no surprise,
like his parents before him, attending a Catholic school like Leo became
essential to Terry; so much so that his mantra to his own children became “you
can attend any school you want, as long as it is Catholic.”
Hall of Fame 2014
Mr. Paul T. Lyons ‘56
After graduating
from Visitation Grammar School Paul decided to go to Leo High School mainly
because his brother who is one year older was going to St. Rita. He
didn't want to be known as Jack Lyons younger brother for the next three years
until he graduated. At Leo Paul played four years of football, two years of
basketball and was voted most valuable player in football in his senior year.
After high school he went on to Loras college,
played football until a shoulder injury side lined him after one year so Paul
then joined the Marine Corp reserves.
From 1958 to 1965 Paul worked at several jobs, including the Chicago Sun
Times and several financial companies. In 1965 he married his wife Marge and
had two wonderful children, Joe the oldest and Eileen, sixteen months younger.
He worked for National Food Stores as a meat delivery driver until National
moved out of the Chicago area. This brought him to Oak Forest where he was
hired by the City of Oak Forest Public Works Dept. While working for the
city, Paul coached boys baseball for four years
and girls softball for three. After twenty years of service in the Public Works
Department, Paul retired in 1999.
For over thirty-five years, several times a year Paul’s friends and
teammates from Leo have gotten together to relive old memories of high school
and friendship that never end. Let’s hope we can continue for another
thirty or more years.
Hall of Fame 2014
Mr. Curtis L. Cooper ‘75
Curtis just
completed eight years as a Senior Account Executive with the Chicago Bulls
organization.
Curtis created
over $5 Million in sponsorship sales during the Bulls 2013-14 regular seasons.
Curtis was responsible for promoting the entire line of integrated marketing solutions
to businesses and targeted accounts throughout the Chicagoland region. Some of
Curtis' clients included McDonald's, Adidas, Magellan, BMO Harris Bank, Ariel
Investments, Illinois Lottery, Horseshoe Casino, Great Clips and more. Curtis
also represented the Bulls in the community via speaking engagements.
Curtis began his
career at Six Flags Great America as an account executive in Institutional
Advertising and won the top sales award five out of six years.
Curtis was
promoted to Regional Sales Manager in 1986 and provided leadership, training
and direction to a team of six account executives and developed expert
proficiency and built a top-performing team which successfully achieved sales
goals across all metrics for three consecutive years.
In 1988, Curtis
joined V-103 and other Clear Channel media outlets and commenced selling
commercial radio airtime and sponsorships to businesses, non-profit groups and
advertising agencies throughout Chicagoland and Will County. He built new
accounts by developing vital relationships with brand managers, retail leaders,
media buyers, concert promoters and banks' community relations executives. Over
18 years, Curtis developed, cultivated, and maintained $20 million by
penetrating new markets and focusing on accounts with significant Growth
potential.
Curtiss's Leadership Activities include: Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor
1987-1989, UNCF Walk-a-Thon Board Member Chicago Chapter 2010-2012, Leo
Catholic High School Donor 2002-Current, 100 BMC, V.P. of Development
2012-Current, Betty Shabazz International Charter Schools, Board Member
2013-Current
Hall of Fame 2014
Mr.
Daniel P. O'Keefe ‘91
Dan O’Keefe
graduated from the Leo H.S. Class of 1991. He came to Leo from St.
Barnabas and played football for four years at Leo including the 11-2 state
semi-final team in 1990. After a stellar high school career he went on to
North Park University Where he was a four year starter, team captain and
three-time all-conference linebacker. After college he became an Assistant
coach at Leo from 1995-96, Bishop Moore H.S. (FL) in 1997 and Chabot College
(CA) in 1998. The following year he returned to Leo to become a teacher, coach,
and dean at Leo from 1999 to 2004 including three years as head football coach
from 2001 to 2003 where the football team made the class 4A state playoffs
in 2003. He was also instrumental in reviving the boxing program at Leo and was
boxing moderator from 2000 to 2003. In 2004, Dan brought his talents to Loyola
Academy where he was an assistant football coach and boxing moderator until
2006. In 2006 he was hired as the head football coach at De La Salle from 2006
to 2013 and won more playoff games than any coach in school history. He won the
Tony Lawless coach of the year award in 2007 and 2009.
He earned a B.A. from North Park and M.A. from Dominican University. At
North Park he is a member of the North Park University hall of fame and has
been president of the Chicago Catholic League Coaches Association since 2010.
He currently resides in Chicago’s Edison Park neighborhood with wife, Meghan
and daughters Shannon and Una.