William J. Leonard
Encyclopedia
William J. Leonard was an end for the University of Notre Dame
's undefeated 1947 football team, which won the National Championship that season. Earlier, he had won recognition as an All-City "gridder" at Youngstown, Ohio
's East High School.
He was born in Youngstown, the son of Patrick and Anna (Welsh) Leonard. From 1942 to 1944, he played for the East High School
football team, where he was first team All-City in 1943 and 1944, was first team All-County in 1944, and was second team All-Ohio in 1944.
. In 1946, he served in the U.S. Army for 18 months. The following year, Leonard played for the undefeated Notre Dame football team that won the National Championship under legendary coach Frank Leahy
, whose players were known as "Leahy's lads".
The 1947 team, which had two Heisman Trophy
winners, Johnny Lujack
and Leon Hart
, was cited by Sports Illustrated
as the best college football team of all time. The Fighting Irish, who never trailed in a single game that year, saw 41 of its players go on to play professional football, including Leonard.
He played for two seasons with the Baltimore Colts
, in 1949 and 1950, and spent a year in the Canadian Football League
in 1951.
Leonard was an active member of St. Edward's Church, on the North Side of Youngstown. He was inducted into the East High School Hall of Fame in 1992 and was inducted into the Curbstone Coaches of Hall of Fame in 1997. His funeral mass was held at St. Edward's Church, on Monday, July 24, 2006.
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
's undefeated 1947 football team, which won the National Championship that season. Earlier, he had won recognition as an All-City "gridder" at Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
's East High School.
He was born in Youngstown, the son of Patrick and Anna (Welsh) Leonard. From 1942 to 1944, he played for the East High School
East High School (Youngstown, Ohio)
East High School is a public high school in the city of Youngstown, Ohio, United States. It had its first school year in fall 2007 since 1998, when a previous incarnation of the school closed. The original school was open from 1925 to 1998 when it was converted to a middle school and closed...
football team, where he was first team All-City in 1943 and 1944, was first team All-County in 1944, and was second team All-Ohio in 1944.
Sports career
In 1945, he played for the Notre Dame football team. His long reception set up the disputed score against Navy, which ended in a 6-6 tie at Cleveland StadiumCleveland Stadium
Cleveland Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in Cleveland, Ohio. In its final years, the stadium seated 74,438, for baseball and 81,000, for football. It was one of the early multi-purpose stadiums, built to accommodate both baseball and football...
. In 1946, he served in the U.S. Army for 18 months. The following year, Leonard played for the undefeated Notre Dame football team that won the National Championship under legendary coach Frank Leahy
Frank Leahy
Francis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive...
, whose players were known as "Leahy's lads".
The 1947 team, which had two Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winners, Johnny Lujack
Johnny Lujack
John Christopher Lujack Jr. is a former American football quarterback and 1947 Heisman Trophy winner.Lujack was born on January 4, 1925, in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. He played college football for the University of Notre Dame, and professionally for the Chicago Bears. Lujack was the first of...
and Leon Hart
Leon Hart
Leon Joseph Hart was an American football tight end and defensive end. He was raised in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh....
, was cited by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
as the best college football team of all time. The Fighting Irish, who never trailed in a single game that year, saw 41 of its players go on to play professional football, including Leonard.
He played for two seasons with the Baltimore Colts
Baltimore Colts (1947-50)
The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The first team to bear the name Baltimore Colts, they were members of the All-America Football Conference from 1947–1949, and then joined the National Football League for one season before folding...
, in 1949 and 1950, and spent a year in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
in 1951.
Later years
When his professional athletic career wound down, Leonard returned to Youngstown, where he worked for 32 years in Research and Development for Commercial Intertech. In 1952, he married the former Helen Weber. The couple had five sons and six daughters.Leonard was an active member of St. Edward's Church, on the North Side of Youngstown. He was inducted into the East High School Hall of Fame in 1992 and was inducted into the Curbstone Coaches of Hall of Fame in 1997. His funeral mass was held at St. Edward's Church, on Monday, July 24, 2006.