Pioneered leprechaun role to lead Notre Dame cheers
Terry Crawford was the retired chief financial officer of Littelfuse Inc. in Des Plaines, and he moonlighted as an Illinois High School Association swimming and water polo official.
But he also holds an important footnote in the annals of University of Notre Dame history: Mr. Crawford was the school's first leprechaun.
"It's official," declares Charles Lamb, assistant director of the university's archives department. "The list we keep of leprechauns starts with him."
Mr. Crawford died June 15 after suffering a massive stroke. The Arlington Heights resident was 68.
Family members last week displayed photos taken in Notre Dame stadium of Mr. Crawford in the role he created back in 1960, with the Irish terrier, Mike, in tow.
"A big part of his duties was to take care of the dog," says his brother, Craig, of Wilmette.
Mr. Crawford and his brother grew up in Glenview, and attended Notre Dame High School in Niles, at the time run by the same religious order as the university, the Holy Cross fathers.
In high school, Mr. Crawford had been captain of the cheerleaders at the all-male school, and president of the Pep Club. His brother figures he built on that tradition when he went to South Bend.
"He loved Notre Dame, and he was proud of his role, but he never mentioned it," says his wife, Pamela.
University officials can document his start in the 1960 season, pointing to South Bend Tribune clippings and a Scholastic Magazine article on campus, that described how a leprechaun had officially been added to the cheerleading squad.
John Heisler, sports information director, said that over the years, the different students cast as the leprechaun have developed the role into a recognized extension of the university worldwide.
"They are as identifiable as any symbol of Notre Dame," Heisler said, "and make great goodwill ambassadors."
Ironically, Mr. Crawford's brother describes how he was not acknowledged as the leprechaun at the first Notre Dame home game that season. It wasn't until he traveled with the cheerleaders to the University of Pittsburgh, and was "kidnapped" by the Pitt Panther, that he was unveiled on the field as the Fightin' Irish mascot.
"From then on," Craig Crawford says, "he was introduced at all the home games."
Mr. Crawford only held the role for that one football season, but his family still has the megaphone he used to cheer with and his monogrammed sweater.
Jo Minton, head cheerleading coach at Notre Dame, said that Mr. Crawford's role as the first leprechaun would be showcased in an upcoming exhibit in the stadium's Heritage Hall display case, near its display of Heisman Trophy winners and historic coaches and players. "We're thrilled to be able to include him," Minton said.
In his professional life, Mr. Crawford worked as a financial officer for United Airlines and TRW before finishing his career at Littelfuse.
He became certified as a high school referee to be closer to the activities of his two children, Christopher and Heather, who conceded they knew little of his historic role at Notre Dame.
"That was my Dad," his son Christopher says. "He was very humble, and private, and never wanted to call attention to himself."
Services have been held.