Man
of the Year 2000
Jerome T. Murphy Class of ' 35
It was
extremely sad that Jerry Murphy passed just
recently and could not be with us to receive this award. We know however that he is with us in spirit
and is proud of his fellow Leo men.
After graduating from St. Sabina,
Jerome Timothy Murphy entered Leo in 1931 and graduated with the class of
1935. After attending Wilson Jr. College
for two years, he enrolled at Chicago Kent College of Law and received his law
degree in 1941.
Since then, until his retirement in
1999, he worked as a “sole practitioner”.
His three attorney sons were associated with him in the Murphy Law
Firm. Jerome represented many Leo
graduates in legal matters.
“Jerry” prepared the first by-laws
for the Leo Alumni Association and had been active in that group for over 60
years. He was class representative,
speaking at the 25th and 50th reunions of his class at
the Alumni Banquets. He credited the
Christian Brothers of Leo with giving him the background to become successful
in life.
He was always an avid sportsman,
excelling at softball and golf. “Do your
best with what God gave you”, was his mother’s answer when her one-armed son
asked if he’d be able to play ball like the other boys. He took her advice as his motto. He became a well-known softball pitcher from
1935-1950, playing in the first night league on the southside, at Normal
Stadium, pitching for “Murray Meats”.
(Another classmate, Al Mahieu also played in this league.) Jerry also pitched for his Knights of
Columbus team, playing in the City Championship game.
When Jerry was at Leo, he played
intramural basketball for four years and gave many students their first look at
the on-handed basketball shot.
He was a good golfer, shooting in
the 80’s and as a one armed golfer was an inspiration to some WWII amputees to
continue to play the sport. He also
bowled, carrying an average in the 170’s for many years.
Music was another of his avocations,
starting as a choir boy for the Leo Parish Choir. He and three friends won 1st prize
singing as a quartet on the “Morris B. Sachs Amateur Hour” of local radio
fame. He sang in and produced many
musicals for St. Sabina, Tabor Farms (while on vacation!!!), St. Cajetan Parish
and is KC Council.
He was active in K of C Cardinal
Bernadin Council for over 55 years, serving as Grand Knight for 2 years and
being honored as Knight of the Year.
Jerry was the 1st
President of the South Side Bar Association and was their chairman for
unauthorized practice of law for several years.
He founded the Southwest School of Business and taught business law
there for three years while building his law practice and raising ten children
with his wife of 54 years, Mary Jane.
Jerry Murphy was a truly a Leo Man!!!
Hall of Fame 2000
James M. Farrell Class of ' 61
Jim
Farrell retired from IBM with twenty five
of service, ten as a Large Systems Customer Engineer, the rest as a Program
Service Representative as Systems Engineer.
He is currently the owner of Francis
Enterprises, an E-Commerce Development company.
Jim cam to Leo after three years at
St. Clare of Monte Falco, and five years at St. Thomas More Grammar School.
Jim was a class officer as a
freshman and sophomore. He was a member
of the tennis club sophomore and junior years.
As a junior and senior he was in the Student Aid program as a
math/algebra tutor for under grads. He
was a cheerleader in senior year. After
graduating Leo, Jim divided his next five years as a student at St. Mary’s
College in Winona, Minnesota and Loyola University in Chicago, and delivering
7-up products, then Budweiser, and as a bartender. In September of 1966, he received his notice
to report for induction into the Service on October 5, 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 active duty. While in Vietnam as a combat platoon leader,
he had the honor of serving in one of our greatest regiments, the 22nd
Infantry Regiment. He considers it Leo’s
regiment, since its motto is “Deeds not Words”.
During his tour of duty Jim’s heroic actions earned him the Bronze Star
for Valor. Jim is a member of the 22nd
Infantry Regiment Society and the 25th infantry Division
Association. He is involved in a project
to locate everyone that served in his infantry company while it was in Vietnam.
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 working with the Leo
Alumni Association for the last twelve years, and if there is an event for our
Association Banquet, Baseball Outing, Golf Outing, etc., you can count on the
fact that he has played a huge role in putting them together. He has also spent countless hours at Leo
helping with their computer operations.
Jim is a most deserving inductee
into the Hall of Fame. Congratulations
and thanks for Jim.
Hall of Fame 2000
Thomas Fitzgerald Class of ' 59
Tom
Fitzgerald came to Leo High School from St.
Barnabas Grammar School where he graduated in 1955. Upon arriving at Leo, Tom not only plunged
into his school work but also the icy waters of the Leo swimming pool where he
participated on the swim team for 4 years.
Upon graduation from Leo, Tom
proceeded to continue his education at Loyola University of Chicago. After graduating from Loyola Tom joined the
United States Navy and while serving his county also began law school at that
time. He graduated from John Marshall
Law School; L.L.B. with honor in 1968, superseded by J.D. with honor, in
1970. He graduated in the upper 10% of
his class. While attending John
Marshall, he was associate editor—The John Marshall Journal of Practice and
Procedure Volume 2, Fall Term 1968, Number 1.
Tom began his law career in the States Attorneys office. He worked there for 8 years from 1968-1976,
serving at various times as supervisor, Felony Court and in Juvenile Court,
Traffic Court and Jury Court.
In 1976, Tom began his judicial
career being elected as Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. He was retained in office in 1982, 1988 and
1994. During that 24 year period he has
filled the following positions within the Circuit Court of Cook County: Criminal Division Supervising Judge First
Municipal District, Presiding Judge Criminal Division and Presiding Judge,
Statewide Grand jury by appointment of the Illinois Supreme Court, 1993 to
present.
While serving on the bench, Tom has
spent much time giving back to the legal profession via various academic
assignments he has accepted, Instructor of Law John Marshall Law School,
Instructor of Law Chicago-Kent College of Law, Assistant Coordinator of the
Trial Advocacy Program 1986, Coach, National Championship Trial Advocacy Team Chicago-Kent
Law School 1988 and faculty member, Einstein Institute for Science, Health and
the Courts 1988 Conference.
He has been a participant in a large
number of Illinois judicial conferences, too numerous to list here, however
just a few examples, Chairman Committee on Sentencing, 1981 Judicial
Conference, Chairman Committee on Instructions, New Judges Seminar
1982-1988, Chairman, Committee on
Criminal Law & Probation Administration 1993-present. Chairman, Criminal Law: Sentencing
1997-1998. Likewise he is a member of
far too many professional associations to list here, but again just to name a
few, Chairman, Illinois Supreme Court Special Committee on Capital Cases,
Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee on Alternative Drug Treatment 1994. Member, Illinois Judges Association
1976-present, including terms as Treasurer 1985, Secretary 1986, Second
Vice-President 1988, First Vice-President 1989 and President 1990, member, Committee on Courts in the 21st
Century. Tom recently was elected as the
Democratic Nominee for Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, Second District,
Congratulations!
Tom and his wife Gayle have five
children, Maura, Kathryn, Jean, Thomas and Ann.
The have also been blessed with two wonderful grandchildren, Nathan and
Connor. The Honorable Thomas Fitzgerald
is a wonderful addition to the Leo H.S. Hall of Fame, welcome aboard Tom.
Hall of Fame 2000
Bro. J.G. Gloss Class of ' 56
This Irish
Christian Brother of over forty years spent most of his youth in Hyde Park. Jim Gloss attended
St. Thomas the Apostle Grammar School where his basketball prowess earned him a
scholarship to Leo. Once there, the good
Brother made the best of his opportunity.
He played both “Lights” and “Heavies”, earning all-city honors in each
division. He was also named to the
“South Lights” all-star team.
After graduation, Jim began his life
long service in the Christian Brothers congregation. After his novitiate he studied at Iona
College in New York graduating Magna Cum Luade in Chemistry-Biology. He then began his “Stateside” teaching
experience in Kent, Washington and from there was transferred to Power Memorial
in New York where he became moderator of the varsity basketball team in
addition to his teaching duties. That
basketball team was considered the best in the country and won all of their
games thanks in large part to the effort of the then Lou Alcindor (Karim
Jabbar). He made other stops on both the
east and west coasts when in the early seventies, brother made a decision that
would find him from then to the present practicing his faith and brotherly
duties in South America (Peru).
Starting in Lima, Brother has taught
(Chemistry, Biology, and Math) and ministered in various parts of areas of Peru
including the Jungle City of Moyobama.
With the exception of a brief sabbatical in 1992 (where he helped other
Brothers minister to a Mexican migrant community) Brother has spent hi time in
Peru. Currently he resides in Lima where
he is now involved in a series of programs he started with two other teachers
in 1991. These projects are aimed at
developing new methods and materials for the teaching of science and math and
transfer them to other teachers. Jim is
involved in this program and others involving public school and environmental
education. Part of the work involves
raising funds for these programs. If you
would like any other information involving these programs, don’t hesitate to
speak with Brother at our banquet which he will be attending.
Jim’s mom is 89 and living in Wake
Forest, NC. He also has an older brother
and younger sister. This truly devoted
Christian is a splendid example of our moot “Deeds not Words”. Welcome to the Hall of Fame Brother.
Hall of Fame 2000
James B. Hartney Class of ' 39
The story
of Dr. Hartney is truly one of the most
inspiring ones which we have ever seen in any walk of life. This Pathologist participated in the
aftermath of one of Chicago’s greatest tragedies and conducted research into
one of the most feared diseases of his time, Hepatitis, a disease that
ultimately cost him his life.
This 1945 graduate of the Loyola
University School of Medicine was the Pathologist at St. Anne’s Hospital in
Chicago on December 1, 1958. That was
the day that fire struck Our Lady of the Angels School that ultimately cost
ninety-two children and three nuns their lives.
St. Anne’s Hospital admitted twice as many children that day than any
other hospital and they were the most severely burned. Under Jim Hartney’s guidance a laboratory
which normally performed 100 specialized blood-chemistry analyses each month
did 300 in three days! Of the over 80
most severely burned children who were admitted – sadly, but amazingly - only
three died. Dr. Hartney’s role as
Pathologist played a large part in this near miracle.
This author of several articles on
blood banking, blood transfusion and the danger of contracting deadly hepatitis
in the transfusion process was one of the leaders in the fight for stronger
regulations of blood banks; realization of the inherent dangers of the purchase
of blood for transfusions; and the establishment of an all volunteer blood
donation process. Tragically during the
course of performing an autopsy on a victim of hepatitis he nicked himself with
the scalpel. Without an effective treatment or cure at the time, he knew he
would ultimately die. Not quitting under
the circumstances he kept records of all the treatments he was receiving during
his illness. These were published in the American Journal of Medicine.
Of the many posthumous awards and
letters of commendation received by Jim’s family after his death the
establishment of the Dr. James B. Hartley memorial Library at St. Anne’s was
probably the most visible, lasting, and significant. We know that his induction into the Hall of Fame
will bring similar sense of pride. Jim
passed away in 1972 but his induction will insure that we never forget his
courage.
Dr. James B. Hartney (Posthumously)
Hall of Fame 2000
William M. Phelan Class of ' 50
Bill
Phelan, one of FIVE Phelan brothers who
attended Leo, graduated from St. Brendan’s in 1946 and went to Leo where he
graduated in 1950.
Upon graduation from Leo he attended
Loyola University where he majored in accounting. After graduation from Leo in 1954, Bill
entered the United States Army where he served 2 years in the infantry.
Upon his discharge from the Army
Bill utilized his accounting background and worked in public accounting for 2
years and for U.S. Steel on the corporate audit staff for 3 years. He next embarked on a career with the
Internal Revenue Service for the next 6 years and also attended law school in
the evenings during his time. Bill has
always been interested in law enforcement since his father was a Chicago
Policeman and at one point in his life had considered a similar path.
After passing the bar in 1967 he
went to work for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange as V.P. of Regulatory
Affairs. Then in 1975 Bill went into
private law practice specializing in law relating to the futures market and the
IRS. He was one of the most successful practitioners
in this particular area of law.
In 1992 Bill was elected Judge of
the Circuit Court of Cook County and he was re-elected in 1998. He is currently serving in the 5th
Municipal District in Bridgeview, Illinois.
Bill and his wife Marlene have been
married for 39 years, they have a daughter Cynthia Phelan who is an M.D. and a
son Bill Jr. who is employed by ESPN.
When not administering justice Bill can many times be found pursuing his
great love for the game of golf.
Bill’s classmates for the class of
1950 can see him at the Banquet. He is
one of the class captains from that class working hard to assure a successful
50th reunion this year.
We welcome Bill to the Hall of Fame.