School guard worked on infamous FBI case

Harry Croon ~ 1935-2007

Long before he joined the staff of Libertyville High School as a security guard, Harry W. Croon was an FBI agent who helped investigate one of the bureau's most infamous cases.

Croon was one of the agents sent to Mississippi to investigate the 1964 disappearance and murders of three civil rights workers in what became known as the "Mississippi Burning" case.

He was proud of his work for the FBI during the civil rights era, and particularly that case, said Mike Crane, a longtime friend and the security supervisor at Libertyville High.

"He went down there to throw the fear of God into local law enforcement," Crane said. "They certainly resented federal law enforcement officers coming into their turf."

Croon, of Park Ridge, died Sept. 19 of cancer. He was one day shy of his 72nd birthday.

Croon was with the FBI from 1954 to 1967. He spent much of his time chasing bank robbers and fugitives, said one of his sons, Garrett, himself an FBI agent.

Croon would tell tales of his encounters with the Mississippi Ku Klux Klan, members of which committed the murders.

"The Klan would come by and throw rattlesnakes in the pool where the agents were staying," Crane recalled.

Croon also worked as a director of corporate security in the private sector. That's how he met Crane, who hired him for the Libertyville High job six years ago.

Croon primarily manned the main entrance at Libertyville High. He greeted staff members, students and visitors to the school.

"He just brought a sense of warmth and hospitality to LHS," said Deb Larson, the district's director of curriculum and instruction. "He always made you feel good, no matter how your day was going. He always cheered you up."

Croon loved the school, its students and especially the Wildcats football team, Garrett Croon said.

A funeral Mass was said Saturday at St. Paul of the Cross Church in Park Ridge.

In addition to Garrett, Croon's survivors include: his wife, Laila; another son, Buddy; daughters Nicole DiVito and Monique Croon; and three grandchildren.

Instead of flowers, memorial donations can be sent to the Rev. John P. Smyth Standing Tall Charitable Foundation, 1100 N. River Road, Des Plaines, IL, 60016