Hall of Fame
The “Father” of Lewis sports. After serving as a Chaplin in the Pacific during World War II, Father Brennan was assigned to then Lewis-Holy Name School as Chaplin for the senior high junior college technical school. In 1947, Father Brennan founded Lewis sports with the fielding of the first football team. This program was the first highlight of Lewis sport history compiling a record of 42-27-3, four conference championships, and a post-season Corn Bowl Title in its short eight-year existence.
Brennan is credited with bringing fine coaches to Lewis including Ray McLean and Jim McCarthy. In 1952 Brennan hired a young Joliet man to coach basketball and start a baseball team, his name Gordie Gillespie. Together with Gillespie, Brennan built a baseball powerhouse and personally built the baseball field that is named in his honor. At Lewis Brennan ran the gauntlet of responsibility: coaching, athletic director, counselor and head of the religion department, as well as campus Chaplin.
Father Brennan is now serving as the pastor of Saint Daniel the Prophet parish on Chicago’s southwest side.
