De La Salle Institute

De La Salle Institute
Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
Website	http://www.dls.org/

De La Salle Institute is a private,

The school is considered a historic institution on Chicago's South Side.[3] It is located three blocks east of Guaranteed Rate Field, the home of MLB's Chicago White Sox. While located in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood, it has very strong ties to the nearby Bridgeport neighborhood. The school is separated from Bridgeport and Guaranteed Rate Field by the Dan Ryan Expressway.

While coming from a commemorative book published by the school, the authors of American Pharaoh:Mayor Richard J. Daley: His Battle for Chicago and the Nation note the following about the school's impact on the history of Chicago:^[4]

"The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton" but "the business leaders of Chicago were trained in the Counting Rooms of De La Salle."

History

De La Salle Institute was founded by Brother Adjutor, a former director of

On 11 April 1925, the school was severely damaged by an early morning fire causing US$35,000 in damage (unadjusted 1925 dollars). Two of the four floors were lost.[8]

1926 saw plans for the addition of a new gymnasium behind the school at a cost of US$100,000 (unadjusted).^[9] These plans were later adjusted with a larger gym built on Michigan Avenue for US$175,000 (unadjusted).^[10]

The 1953–54 school year saw the school purchase the remainder of the block on which the school is situated. In March, ground breaking occurred for an addition to the school.^[11][12] In October, 1955, ground was broken on an addition to the brothers' residence attached to the school.^[13][14]

By 1960, more room was needed to handle the increase in student population. A new addition was built north of the extant building, adding a gymnasium and more classrooms.^[15] Groundbreaking occurred in late September, 1960, with the cornerstone being laid in June, 1961.^[16] The US$850,000 (unadjusted) addition was dedicated in May, 1962.^[17]

After decades of not having an outdoor sports stadium of its own, plans were made in 1967 to construct a stadium and sports complex. In a rare move, the fundraising for the stadium, estimated at US$250,000 (unadjusted) was not headed by an alum, with the honorary chair of the development committee being given to George Halas, owner of the Chicago Bears.^[18][19]

In June, 1984, with no more space for expansion, and the need for new facilities, the original four story school building was demolished.^[20]

The school has a history of diversity, dating back to its first class of nine students which included two Jewish students. Today roughly 28% of the school is African–American, 32% is Latino, and nearly 25% are non–Catholic.^[21]

In 2002, the school opened the Lourdes Hall Campus, a collaboration with the

There are also technical courses offered at various levels (including honors) in electronics and small engines. A course in Computer System Management requires students to aid in computer maintenance at the school.[23]

Tablet PC program

In 2006, De La Salle began requiring incoming freshmen to lease or purchase an IBM X41

The De La Salle Meteors men's teams compete in the Chicago Catholic League (CCL), while the women's teams compete in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC). The school also competes in state championship tournaments sponsored by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).

In 1961, De La Salle joined some schools in leaving the Chicago Catholic League in order to form a new conference (the Chicagoland Prep League) and participate in the IHSA.^[19][25] At the time, the Chicago Catholic League members were not IHSA members, and under IHSA guidelines, schools in the IHSA could not play schools outside the organization, nor could schools outside the organization compete for state championships.

The following teams have finished in the top four of their respective IHSA state tournaments:^[26]

• basketball (boys) •• 3rd place (1976–77)

In the era before De La Salle came under the auspices of the IHSA, De La Salle won a National Catholic Basketball Championship in 1928–1929, defeating St. Stanislaus High School of

The school offers an introductory course to learning a musical instrument, as a pathway for novice musicians to enter the concert band. The concert band is a full year course, with an honors option involving research in addition to performance.[28]

In addition to courses in introductory and advanced Drama,

The tuition for the 2007–08 school year is US$9,125, however the school has an educational scholarship open to "most" domestic students, which is worth $1,825. The school also claims that about 55% of students receive additional financial aid through an application process.[29]

Students must also have their own Tablet PC. There is the option to "lease-to-own" at $56–per–month for 46 months. There is also the option to purchase the computer outright at $2,200.^[30]

Notable alumni

Government and politics

Five mayors of Chicago are among the alumni. For only ten years (1979–89) between 1947 and early 2011, has the Mayor of Chicago not been an alumnus of this school.

• Frank J. Corr (class of 1895) was the interim mayor for a few months in 1933 after the assassination of Mayor Anton Cermak by a bullet that was assumed to be intended for Franklin D. Roosevelt.^[31]
• Golden Jubilee fund campaign.^[32][33]
• Richard J. Daley (class of 1919) was mayor from 1955 to 1976, winning seven mayoral elections in total.^[34][35]
• Illinois Supreme Court (serving 1990–2000, and as Chief Justice 1994–96)^[36]
• Richard M. Daley (class of 1960) was the mayor of Chicago from 1989 to 2011. He was the longest-serving mayor of Chicago, surpassing his father on December 26, 2010, and was succeeded by Rahm Emanuel the following year.^[37]

Others:

• Bernard Carey, politician who served as Cook County State's Attorney and a judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County
• Cook County Board (1969–90) after serving eight years in the Illinois House of Representatives.^[38]
• Morgan M. Finley served in the Illinois Senate from 1959 to 1967.^[39]
• Michael L. Igoe (class of 1903) was elected in 1934 to serve in the 74th United States Congress. He stepped down after less than six months to become the new U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. After four years, he became a U.S. district judge.^[40][41]
• John W. Rainey (class of 1898) was a three-term Congressman (1918–23).^[42]
• I-94 that runs through the south side of the city is named in his honor.^[43]

• UFC Heavyweight Contender^[44]
• Brian Bogusevic, baseball player for Tulane University and was the No. 24 draft pick for Houston Astros in the 2005 MLB Draft.
• Charles A. Comiskey II (class of 1944) was the only grandson of Charles Comiskey. From 1957 to 1959, he was president of the Chicago White Sox; the last member of the Comiskey family to preside over the organization.^[45][46][47]
• MLB player for (Chicago White Sox
  )
• George Connor (class of 1943) was the first winner of the Outland Trophy in 1946 as outstanding collegiate interior lineman (while playing for the University of Notre Dame). He spent most of his NFL career with the Chicago Bears, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 1975.^[48][49]
• Bryant Gumbel (class of 1965) is a sports commentator and television news personality.^[50]
• Greg Gumbel (class of 1963) is a sports commentator and television news personality.^{[50][51][52][53]}
• Seattle Seahawk's 2018 draft selection.^[54]
• Cleveland Indians, was a member of the Chicago Cubs' College of Coaches (serving as "head coach" from 1963 to 1965); first manager for relocated Oakland Athletics, and general manager for Chicago Cubs (1977–81).^[55][56]
• Jack Kerris was a professional basketball player, in the NBA (1950–53). He was a first round draft pick in the 1949 Basketball Association of America draft.^[57]
• Basketball Hall of Fame in 1976.^[58][59][60]
• LaRue Martin was a basketball player for Loyola University and the Portland Trail Blazers (1972–76). He was the first overall pick in the 1972 NBA draft.^[61]
• Montenegro national basketball team
  .
• Noname Gypsy
  (Class of 2010) is an American rapper and poet.
• Emmett T. "Red" Ormsby (class of 1912) was an American League umpire (1923–41). He umpired in the 1927, 1933, 1937, and 1940 World Series, as well as the 1935 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.^[62][63]
• Dennis O'Toole, MLB player for White Sox.
• Anaheim Angels.^[64]
• Eddie Riska, National Basketball League player for the Oshkosh All-Stars and All-American at Notre Dame.^[65]
• Washington Redskins.^[66]

• offensive tackle for the Chicago Cardinals, and was a part of their 1947 NFL Championship team. The main athletic field at De La Salle was renamed in his honor in 2007.^[67][68][69]