Former public high school teacher Joseph A. Leo graduated from Thomas R. Proctor High School in 1961 and began his career as one of the area' s best golfers and instructors.

A member of the first-ever golf team at Proctor High School, Leo moved on to State University of New York at Oswego where he graduated in 1966. As a member of the SUNY Oswego Laker golf team, he was a three-time captain and Most Valuable Player, and with his brother Ralph led the team to its first-ever SUNY State Title.

Leo began his career in teaching at Fulton High School where he coached junior varsity and varsity basketball for 18 years. While with Fulton, Leo also coached freshman baseball for ten years.

After Thomas R. Proctor High School and Utica Free Academy merged in 1987, Leo joined the new Utica Senior Academy basketball coaching staff with his brother Ralph and current Thomas R. Proctor varsity basketball coach Norman Stamboly.

With over 400 victories as a coach, Joe Leo will celebrate his 40th Anniversary as a leader on the hardwoods. He has preferred the junior varsity level over the varsity level of coaching, he says, "Because my goal is to be able to teach the fundamentals to young people." With his numerous Christmas and Tip-Off Tournament wins, he has attained that goal.

Despite his solid coaching career on the court, Leo made a name for himself in golf. In 1978 he won his first Greater Utica City Amateur Golf Championship, and then became just the second player in the area to win three consecutive championships when he won titles in 1981, 1982, and 1983. Along with those accomplishments, Leo returned to the championship fold by winning the 1995 Greater Utica City Amateur Championship Seniors title. Additionally, he has secured two "Best Ball" titles in his career along with three Holes-in-One, the first coming in 1959.

A Valley View links staple, Leo has three Junior Club Championships and seven Men's Club Championships under his belt. The skills that brought him such a stellar career catapulted him into his given role of teacher. As Director of the Utica Youth Bureau Golf Clinic from 1983 until now, Leo has overseen the development of golf skills for hundreds of men as juniors, seniors, and super-seniors.

Through his work, Leo has introduced, cultivated and watched as numerous young men have grown in the sport.

"My brother is well-deserving of this great honor," said Ralph Leo. "I grew up with him, played golf with him, and coached with him in basketball. He is one of the most knowledgeable golf minds this area has ever produced, and one of the most skilled basketball tacticians of his generation."