SAINT PATRICK HIGH SCHOOL TO PRESENT JAMES R. LABUZ, SR. WITH SAINT PATRICK LEGACY AWARD
February 17, 2022
Chicago, IL (February 17, 2022) – Saint Patrick High School will honor James R. Labuz, a 1978 graduate of the premier all-male Catholic high school in Chicago, with its Saint Patrick Legacy Award on Saturday, March 5th at the 54th Annual Green and Gold Gala. The award, given to an alumnus who represents the values of Saint Patrick and has demonstrated an extraordinary, lifelong commitment to its tradition, is one of the school’s highest honors.
A member of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Property, Plant and Equipment Committee, Labuz has contributed to the INCubator and STEAM Labs among other projects at Saint Patrick. In addition, Mid-States Glass and Metal, Inc., the glass and glazing company he has owned since 1986, completed the school’s 6.5 million-dollar building and program expansion project in July 2000.
“It is an honor to receive the Saint Patrick Legacy Award,” Labuz said. “I am really proud of all that we accomplished as a school under Dr. Schmidt’s leadership and now with Dan Santucci, there is a renewed energy that bodes well for the future of St. Pat’s. As president, Dan is making things happen. Projects like redoing the backfield turf are exciting for me and it’s great for people to see he is committed to staying at Belmont & Austin. The school is headed in a good direction with good people to get us there and I am excited to be a part of it.”
In addition to completing projects for the school, Labuz is committed to providing opportunities for alumni and current students. His company, Mid-States, employs twelve Saint Patrick graduates and hosts interns through the school’s STEAM program. A recipient of the President’s Counselor II Award in May 2019, Labuz is also a yearly sponsor of the Green and Gold Gala and Shamrock Golf Outing.
“From the moment I assumed the role as president, Jim has been a huge support system,” said President Dan Santucci ‘02. “He checks every box for what it means to be a Shamrock. He is very generous with his time and treasure and is always willing to help our school any way he can. Shamrock roots run deep in Jim’s family, from his brothers to his kids and most importantly our honorary Shamrock, his wife, Gina. The Labuz’s embody all we stand for at Saint Patrick High School with Jim at the core.”
Labuz, who received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in 1983, has worked in the curtainwall industry for forty years. Mid-States, now in its 25th year, has completed many notable curtainwall and glazing projects in the Chicago market. Recent projects include Lincoln Yards, Northwestern Kellogg School of Management and Loyola University Medical Center.
Jim and his wife, Gina, have six children and ten grandchildren with their eleventh grandchild due in April. Their four sons (Jim ’02, Mark ’03, Charlie ’12 and Luke ’17) are graduates of Saint Patrick and went on to attend MIT, University of Illinois, University of Notre Dame and Butler.
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Now in its 161st year, Saint Patrick High School’s mission is to prepare leaders inspired by faith, tradition and brotherhood. Guided by innovative Lasallian principles, Saint Patrick welcomes students of other religious beliefs, varying academic abilities, and diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds.
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