Leo Rose​

After moving to San Antonio at a young age from Minneapolis, Leo Rose attended Jefferson High School, where he was a star on the softball and basketball teams. He was offered a basketball scholarship from St. Mary’s University but turned it down to provide for his family. While working two jobs, at a grocery store and a paper warehouse, Rose made time for night school and to play competitive softball and basketball in city leagues, where he was named to the All-City team six years in a row. During that time, he was named Outstanding Jewish Athlete of San Antonio. ​

Rose volunteered for the Army Air Corps in 1941, where he and his crew were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal for their valor. Upon his return to San Antonio, Rose co-founded Lachman-Rose, which became the largest toy distributor in the Southwest. He was a part of this business until 1978, when he retired to make time for his community. His contributions to the committee included significant financial and temporal aid to the Jewish and overall San Antonio community. In 1973, Rose was one of the 35 local businessmen who secured a lend-lease deal with the owners of the Dallas Chapparals to move the team to San Antonio. The team’s name was changed to the San Antonio Spurs, and they were welcomed by the city with open arms. After one year, the ownership group decided to buy the team outright, and the city of San Antonio changed forever. Rose also created the San Antonio Racquets, a World Team Tennis club that won two championships.​

Rose’s awards, achievements, and contributions to his community and city are too many to count. With his passing in 2020 at the age of 99, he leaves behind a legacy in San Antonio that will not soon be forgotten and made the city better than when he arrived.​