Chicago Little Flower High School “Lancers”

Little Flower was a member of the Metropolitan Catholic, South Central Prep, and the Private School League Conferences while the school was open for business. We do know that football and boys’ basketball were offered, and possibly baseball and boys’ track. Anyone who might know anything about the history of the school’s athletics and extra-curricular activities is invited to contact us at the addresses listed toward the bottom of this page.

FOOTBALL

Once the school was able to offer four years of education, Little Flower fielded a varsity team for the gridiron. Tom Sikorski was able to find out more for us about some of the better teams at LFHS: The school fielded their first football team in 1961 but did not win their first game until opening day 1963 when they beat Holy Cross 13-0. Gene Pagliaro was head coach during the 1962 and 1963 seasons. After a winless 1964 campaign, the program took off. Those highlights are listed below:

1965  6-2     3rd place-Metropolitan Catholic Conference     Coach Bob Foster

                (Coach Foster played for Leo HS and Purdue Univ.) Asst Coaches Lord & Marcoline

1966  7-2                                                                                     Coach Jack Lord

1967  5-4                                                                                     Coach Jack Lord

1969  7-1                                                                                     Coach Frank Houlihan

1970  3-5-1  Co-Champs (3-way tie) 

                   South Central Prep Conference                            Coach Frank Houlihan

1971  4-3-1  3rd place-Private School League                        Coach Frank Houlihan

1972  7-0-1  Private School League Champs!!                       Coach Frank Houlihan

Last game a 18-8 win over Luther South

How’s that for going out in style? Winning a conference title and going undefeated in the school’s final season!! If the school could have stayed open another two or three years, it very well could have been a qualifier in the IHSA playoffs that debuted in 1974.

BASKETBALL

Little Flower was also competitive on the basketball floor, where it also won an IHSA district title. Win-loss records and names of coaches are not available, but are certainly welcome for submission.

1960-61  14 – 8                                                               Coach John Niemieta

1962-63  11 – 10                                                             Coach John Niemieta

1964-65  16 – 3 (Fresh-Soph Record) F/S won Metropolitan Catholic League Title

1965-66  13 – 10                                                             Coach’s name needed

1966-67  15 – 11   Palos Hills District Champions      Coach’s name & record needed

Thanksgiving Tourney Champions

                             District Scores   

                             Semi-final Beat Stagg 85-42

                             Title Game Beat St. Francis de Sales 69-66

Oak Lawn Regional Tournament

1st Rd lost to Quigley South 53-44

Chicago Little Flower Basketball – 1966-67

Submitted by Bob Honkisz

1971-72    7 – 16                                                              Coaches John Niemiera & Frank Collins

1972-73  10 – 16                                                              Coach John Niemiera

1971-72                                                             Coaches Hrebic & Unavitch

1972-73   14 – 9     (Conference Record 12 – 2)      Coach Unavitch

Boys Track & Field

1971-72                                                             Coach Frank Houlihan

From Steve Keane (Class of 1969):

“I was a member of the Track teams during the 67, 68 and 69 seasons. During the 1969 season we placed in an all-city meet. We took home several individual first and seconds during the meet as well.”

Girls Volleyball

This sport was offered in the 1972-73 school year, according to research conducted by Melody Larson. The school, in fact, had two varsity teams competing that year!

1972-73    10 – 0           (Varsity II – Conference Champs)    Coach Jane Surma

9 – 1           (Varsity I)                                         ”         ”         ”

Girls Basketball

This sport debuted in the 1972-73 school year as well.

1972-73     3 – 3

Boys Bowling

From Steve Keane (Class of 1969):

“I was a member of the Lancers bowling team during 1969 during which we won our division.”

Other Sports Offered

Boys and girls track and field, as well as boys and girls tennis, were offered at Chicago Little Flower High School in its last year open.

MEMORIES

From Jim Bowen (Class of 1973):

“I WAS IN THE LAST GRADUATING CLASS AT LITTLE FLOWER. THIS WAS THE SCHOOL THAT WAS AT 79TH AND HONORE. THE GRADE SCHOOL WAS AT 80TH AND HONORE AND THE CHURCH WAS AT 80TH AND WOOD ST. SOMEONE NAMED MSGR. MCMAHON IS THE ONE WHO WAS FOR THE LACK OF A BETTER TERM, “IN CHARGE” OF THE LITTLE FLOWER PARISH. WHAT A GREAT PARISH TO GROW UP IN. GREAT FAMILY VALUES STILL IN THE MINDS OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT GREW UP THERE. WE WERE VERY PROUD. 

THERE IS ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON YOUR STORY AND THAT IS THE REAL REASON THAT THE SCHOOL CLOSED DOWN WAS DURING THE 60’S AT ONE OF THE SCHOOL FUNCTIONS (SENIOR TRIP), THERE WAS A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TO ONE OF THE CLASS MEMBERS. THIS PERSON HAD SOME SERIOUS EFFECT TO HIS LIFE AFTER THIS ACCIDENT AND THE FAMILY SUED THE SCHOOL FOR THIS. THE LAWSUIT WENT ON FOR YEARS AND FINALLY CAME TO HEAD IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES. THE SCHOOL HAD TO CLOSE BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUNDS. 

IT DOESN’T SEEM THAT THERE IS ANY REMORSE OR BAD FEELINGS TOWARDS THIS FAMILY. WE ALL SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND. WE WERE SAD TO SEE OUR SCHOOL CLOSE BUT AS I SAID BEFORE, WE STILL HAVE A GREAT FAMILY AND SCHOOL VALUES TO THIS DAY..”

Information, please….

is requested about the history of Little Flower High School. Although it may have been open a short time, there had to be some good memories from an alumnus or someone who was close to the action at the school. A photo of the school would be nice as well. Please email us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or send it to:

IHSGD Site

6439 North Neva

Chicago, IL  60631