Dan McGrath Gets the Call to the Hall of Fame, Capping a Career in Sports Reporting Before Taking on Leo Reins
Beverly Morgan Park native took to sports with his father’s influence, daily newspapers he delivered before or after reading sports pages.
By Bill Figel
Dan McGrath’s love of sports began at home with his father, “Duke,” and was nourished by the daily newspaper the grade-schooler delivered—either before or after reading the entire sports section.
By day, McGrath would read metro sports sections featuring columnists such as John Carmichael, Bill Gleason, Red Smith and Warren Brown. At night, he would huddle by the radio with his dad listening to the likes of Jack Brickhouse, Bob Elson and Lloyd Pettit.
Those early impressions led to great callings.
McGrath was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame on October 15 and awarded the “Excellence in Media” honor, along with others being recognized for “their remarkable achievements and impact on the local sports community.”
“In the pantheon of Chicago Tribune sports editors, Dan stands at the top due to his knowledge, repertorial skills, communication prowess and willingness to have the backs of his writers even when they might have upset the wrong player, manager, GM or president,” said Paul Sullivan, sports columnist at the Chicago Tribune.
“His gut feeling on choosing the right people to be a part of his team is uncanny, which is why he’s still beloved by writers and copy editors at every stop he’s been at.”
A graduate of the Marquette University College of Journalism, McGrath began his writing career under the tutelage of the Dominican Sisters at St. Cajetan Elementary School, including Sr. Amelia. She made diagramming sentences every student’s passion—or curse.
The grammarians who taught McGrath how to write also set a standard he embraced throughout his career, and he could quickly spot a writer who also learned grammar from nuns.
Often, McGrath said, when interviewing job candidates for sports beat reporter positions and inspecting their writing samples, he’d fondly remember Sr. Amelia and ask a question.
“You attended Catholic school with the nuns, didn’t you?!”
The former newsman still bleeds ink.
Following McGrath’s successful 40-year career in the newspaper business—the last 13 as sports editor of the Chicago Tribune—the Morgan Park native was drawn back to Leo High School, where he graduated in 1968.
McGrath’s pathway to Leo is no surprise, because the same principles apply when dealing with reporters or teachers or students. Treat them the right way, and they will turn out well.
Many a sportswriter caught the ire of former Cubs manager Dusty Baker, whose relationship with McGrath dated back to the 1990s when the two were in San Francisco and McGrath covered Baker’s Giants.
“Dan is a good man” Baker told Sullivan.
Since 2010, McGrath has been president of Leo, and during his tenure, his alma mater has experienced a period of remarkable growth with a substantial boost in enrollment and financial support.
Although more than a decade removed from calling the shots in the sports department at the Chicago Tribune, McGrath is hardly forgotten.
“Dan McGrath is always the quietest person in the room,” said Mike Joyce, a member of the board of directors for the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame, “and he’s always the smartest person in the room.”
McGrath’s sports column, “On the Business of Sports,” in Crain’s Chicago Business draws a loyal following and gains traction on social media, especially among Leo alums who continue to support the school for reasons that include McGrath’s leadership.
In each of McGrath’s 16 years as president, Leo has achieved a 100-percent graduation rate among its seniors. He has overseen renovations to the school’s gym, auditorium, courtyard and athletic field and set school records for fundraising. However, McGrath regards the hiring of Dr. Shaka Rawls as Leo’s principal in 2016 as his most significant decision.
A member of the Leo High School Hall of Fame, McGrath was named Leo Alumni Association Man of the Year in 2015 and was inducted into the Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame in 2018. He and his wife, Jo-Anna, have two adult children and a granddaughter, Maddie, who reportedly is “smart as a whip.”
The Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 1979 as an exhibit trailer owned by the Olympia Brewing Company and parked at Soldier Field in Chicago. The Chicago Park District took over the exhibit in 1983. From 1988 on, the exhibit and plaques of the Hall of Fame were displayed in Mike Ditka’s restaurant until it closed in 1991.
The Hall of Fame moved to Maryville Academy in Des Plaines in 1996, and it was operated under the guidance of the Rev. John P. Smyth. Today, the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame is virtual and hosts its annual awards ceremony at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.