Dick Leous

Richard E. Leous

Class of 1946

Sport(s): Baseball | Football

Year Inducted: 2002

Dick Leous was a member of the 1943 Cornell Cup Championship baseball team as a freshman. He earned four major letters in baseball and was All-High in 1945 with a batting average of .526. His positions were first baseman and outfielder. In 1944 he played on the Bennett Tigers American League Championship baseball team that went on to the state finals in Syracuse.

He was a member of the football team for four years, earned three major letters, and was All-High in 1944 and 1945. He played fullback, called the plays, and did passing and kicking for the team. He was co-captain of the 1944 team that played for the Harvard Cup championship on Thanksgiving Day. He was also captain of the 1945 team and was the second highest scorer in the Harvard Cup series that year. In his junior year he was chosen on Van Patrick’s radio program to be the captain of his All-High team. Dick was also chosen as the Player of the Week in the Harvard Cup series twice during his career and was interviewed on the radio each time.

Dick played as a defenseman in the amateur hockey league at Memorial Auditorium during his freshman and sophomore years.

Besides being an ardent sportsman, he was a member of the Bennett student council, head cafeteria monitor, Chaplain of the senior boys’ Hi-Y, and was honored by his classmates by being elected secretary of the graduating class. He was elected to the Bennett Beacon Hall of Fame in 1946.

At graduation he received the American Legion Certificate of School Award and received a full four year athletic scholarship to the University of Notre Dame. Dick’s athletic career at Notre Dame was cut short because of injuries. After graduation he helped Fred Braun coach football at Bennett High School until he was drafted into the Army. After service, Dick’s desire was still to be involved in football. Through the encouragement of Fred Braun, Dick became a high school football official. He has been associated with the Western New York chapter of the New York State Association of Certified Football Officials for 48 years. He officiated numerous games in the area and was president of that group for 26 years. He officiated college football games for five years. He was the New York State Rules Interpreter for 15 years and president of that group for one year. Dick received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Federation of State High School Athletic Association for his knowledge of football rules and service to that organization.