Leo Houck
(11/4/1888 - 1/21/1950)
Born in Lancaster's Cabbage Hill District, in 1888, Leo and his brothers excelled in both football and baseball for St. Joe's Catholic Club. After winning the city football championship in 1907, he and his younger brother Johnny pitched an epic 16 inning game against each other, a year later. They each had 14 strikeouts.
The Lancaster Thunderbolt began his boxing career in his early teens, beating the legendary Jack Britton before he turned 18. He also bested Battling Levinsky 3 times in 1911, who went on to become the Light Heavyweight Champ from '16-'20. Leo also fought all-time heavyweight greats Harry Greb and Gene Tunney, in his 30's.
After amassing 211 bouts, Leo's unofficial record, including "newspaper decisions", was 144 wins 26 losses and 23 draws, with 21 wins by knockout. He fought approximately once a week, with many wins coming inside The Fulton Opera House. In May 1911, he won the claim to the world middleweight title, after beating Harry Lewis in Paris.
Leo went on to coach Penn State's boxing team in 1923, while also acting as the football trainer. Leo was inducted into the Ring Magazine HOF in 1969, and the International Boxing HOF in 2012. He died in Lancaster at the age of 61, in 1950.