Dan McGrath, Leo Man of the Year, 1968 Lion Answers Call to Mission

“He should be Man of the Decade,” said the alum.

High praise when the decade is only half over.

McGrath joined Leo in 2010, while rounding third in an award-winning career as a sportswriter. He’s still straddling the sidelines writing two sports columns a week for the Chicago Sun-Times. Busy man. McGrath and his wife of 43 years Jo-Anna (Grannon) have two adult children – Matt and Megan.

The former Chicago Tribune sports editor had an immediate impact on the all-boys Catholic high school, now in its 89th year in the business of education. From the day he slipped a black and orange Leo windbreaker over his gray hair and beard, McGrath has attempted to use “where he came from” to get Leo where it’s going next. Never did he envision being the face of Leo, but more a steward of the Leo legacy: giving young men the confidence to succeed in life and the choice to make a difference in the world.

One of his ploys has been to use a sports Rolodex Arli$$ would lust after. From all points on the sports map – San Francisco Chronicle, Philadelphia Inquirer, Sacramento Bee, and even Freeport Journal Standard, McGrath draws on relationships.

When the likes of Dusty Baker, Bob Brenly, Len Kasper, Tommy Hawkins and John McDonough arrive at the school for a chat with the young men, McGrath modestly introduces them as old friends, while lauding their achievements in sports and professional life.

Boys of a certain age don’t remember men of a certain age, when basketball was without dunks, baseball without Jumbotrons or hockey without helmets.

But with McGrath setting the table, they do recognize good messaging and life lessons from leaders. McDonough, Chicago Blackhawks president, turned the tables last month.

Addressing the entire student body, McDonough provided a peak into McGrath’s “juice” or circle of influence, unfamiliar to the youngsters in his school: “Dan McGrath is one of the most respected people in our (sports) industry.”

High praise again. McGrath has also drawn graduation commencement speakers such as Illinois’ Steve Bardo and Thomas Durkin, one of Chicago’s finest and most celebrated attorneys, noted for his bravery and ability to defend the little guy.

In June 2014, the McGrath network paid off again: Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen took groups of kids from the Lost Boyz Baseball Foundation and Leo High School on a shopping trip to NikeTown on Michigan Avenue.

Each youngster was allowed to pick out a new pair of shoes, and then fill a duffel bag with enough socks, shirts, shorts, sweats and other gear to last into adulthood. Most of them made room in their bags for stuff for friends and family members.

McCutchen spoke to the kids before they started loading up. He noted that they’d been chosen because they were doing well in the classroom as well as on the playing field, and they should always maintain that priority: While it’s fine to strive for athletic success, it’s more important to be a good student, a good citizen and a good person.

The ever-modest McGrath takes daily delight in the simple give-and-take as he ambles down the hallways conversing with the largely African-American student body. Recently he was motioned into a classroom by a teacher. A McGrath byline was an integral part of the lesson. An unknowing pupil triggered Dan’s great humor and belly laugh.

“This is great, like it was written by a professional or something,” said the freshman.

McGrath was about the same impressionable age when his father died. A few days later, Leo representatives showed up at his door in Saint Cajetan, a parish in which his father Jim “Duke” McGrath was known for jumpstarting the local Little League, among other youth-oriented sports activities.

“They told me not to worry about tuition,” said McGrath. “They said they were looking for young men like me to come to Leo.’

Not all the financial strain was lifted from the McGrath home, his mother Marge and six siblings with that gesture; however, it certainly helped and inspired in Dan a life-long understanding of what Leo’s motto means: Facta Non Verba—Deeds Not Words.

While his actions today do speak loudly, in his own words McGrath gushes proudly about the Leo students:

“Our kids are polite, friendly, motivated and well-behaved. They understand that someone is making a sacrifice for them to be at Leo—their parents, their grandparents, a guardian or an alum—so they work hard in school and they try to do the right things as people.

“Being around ‘my kids’ every day, I pick up on their likes and dislikes, on what’s important to them—for many, sports are the currency of the culture. I realized this shortly after I was introduced at my very first assembly. A well-meaning but windy speech was drifting right over their heads, going nowhere and drawing yawns until the vice-principal who had introduced me bailed me out.

“Before Mr. McGrath came to Leo,” he told the students, “he was a sportswriter.”

“Well, it wasn’t like Derrick Rose had walked through the door, but it gave me a smidgen of credibility in the kids’ world. Sure enough, a little guy seated near the front immediately jumped to his feet. “Kobe or LeBron?” he demanded, and a lively discussion followed.

“Darnell, the little guy, is now part of a group that comes by my office every Monday morning to recap the weekend in sports. They want me to know what they know.”

McGrath’s sister, Sister Jean, the long-time principal and legend at Saint John Fisher Grade School, thinks Leo was her brother’s “second calling” - even transcending the first.

“Here Dan comes from a career in which he can cover any sporting event in the world, but when he speaks about Leo, there is just such passion in his voice about the kids and the school,” said Sister Jean. “Leo is Dan’s mission.”

The Leo High School Alumni Association will honor Daniel McGrath, the current Leo President, as its Man of the Year April 24, 2015 at the Lexington House.

Also being honored are: Thomas P. Boyle, 65 (Community Service Award) and Hall of Fame Inductees: George O’Grady, ‘51; Richard M. Doyle, ’65; Thomas “Hops” Hopkins, ‘73; Shaka A. Rawls, ’93; Jason D. Jefferson, ’00; 2nd Battalion 24th Marines.

The Leo High School Alumni banquet begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Lexington House, 7717 West 95th Street, Hickory Hills, IL. Tickets are $60.00.

For more information call 773/224-9600; visit www.LeoAlumni.org