'True hall-of-famer': Cerebral palsy never slowed down No. Quincy's Mike Leith on the court

The Patriot Ledger - 1/22/2022

QUINCY — By many accounts, Mike Leith was one of the most dedicated North Quincy High Basketball players when he competed on the high school team in the 1970s.

Leith spent years practicing to make the varsity squad his senior year but he faced challenges bigger than opposing players. Leith was born with cerebral palsy along the right side of his body.

He pressed on, though, and was among the starting five for North Quincy's final home game his senior year. The feat did not go unnoticed. The way former teammate Richard Mahoney tells it, the crowd began chanting Leith's nickname when he was announced as starter that game: "Elmo, Elmo, Elmo."

'Hero Among Us': Quincy resident honored by Boston Celtics for charity basketball tournaments

Nearly 50 years later, Leith's hardwork and dedication has been cemented into school history as he was inducted into the North Quincy basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night during the school's game against Quincy High.

"I was just somebody that really didn't look at myself as somebody that was physically challenged," Leith said.

Leith had a passion for basketball — that much was clear, his teammates and former coach said.

"He just loved the game," Leith's former junior varsity coach Ed Miller said. "He obviously had a disability, as we know, but that never stopped him."

Leith could be found on the court at Merrymount Park, locally known as "The Mount," all the time, Miller said. The fact that he had a disability didn't stop him from hustling up and down the court. Leith could catch passes and make shots with one hand, and he could easily palm a basketball, the coach said.

More: Norwell High girls basketball team is building towards something special

More: A pair of aces: Orlagh Gormley, Daithi Quinn have revitalized North Quincy High basketball

Leith's nickname, "Elmo," comes from the NBA player Zelmo Beaty, as far as former teammate Jack Browne remembers it. Beaty was a good shot blocker, and so was Leith.

Miller said that in basketball, kids often get injured, stay out of the game and eventually rejoin the court after they heal.

Leith has dealt with the same disability his entire life, Miller said, and he never let it get him down.

"He overcame a lot of obstacles to get where he is today," he said. "We treated him just like the rest of the kids."

The moment when Miller and head coach Robert "Knobby" Nolan called Leith into their office to give him a varsity jersey, the JV coach said, was amazing.

The student-athlete had played on the JV team his sophomore and junior year, and in 12th grade in 1976, he made the varsity cut.

"It was something he dreamed about," Miller said, "I'm sure."

Miller was the person who called Leith to let him know he'd earned an induction into the hall of fame.

The former player said the call came as a total surprise.

"I wasn't looking for recognition," Leith, 64, said of his time on the team. "I was just looking for acceptance."

Leith said during his time in high school, basketball felt like an equalizer of sorts.

"Basketball for me was an outlet to kind of make me feel equal," he said. "It was kind of ground-breaking to have someone with a physical disability make the basketball team."

Two of his former teammates, Richard Mahoney and Jack Browne, enthused over Leith's dedication to the game throughout their youth.

"He played the game like you can't believe," Mahoney said. "I'm just thrilled for Mike."

Mahoney recounted that last home game, which was Nolan's last game he ever coached before retirement.

"He called that moment one of the highlights of his coaching career," Mahoney said of Nolan, who has since died.

Browne remembers North Quincy beating their opponent, Cambridge Rindge and Latin School.

"We beat them on sheer adrenaline," he said, "and Mike certainly was a big part of that."

A news clipping from the Patriot Ledger provided by Mahoney confirms the team's 88-78 victory.

Years later, Leith was inducted into the high school's hall of fame Jan. 21 during a half-time celebration. Mahoney handed Leith his trophy.

"He's a true hall-of-famer," Miller, his former coach, said.

South Shore stars: 2022 will be a big year for entertainers with local connections

Casting call: HGTV is seeking South Shore homes for 'Houses with History'

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer.

Reach Alex Weliever at aweliever@patriotledger.com.