UMass Lowell Athletics

(1977) - Leo Parent contributed to Lowell State Teachers College a fantastic career (1955-59) in college athletics, receiving national recognition in both baseball and basketball.

The versatile Parent compiled a four-year batting average of .376, including the first official small college batting title in the U.S. in 1957; as well as a career pitching record of 20-6 and an ERA of 1.88. Leo recorded 302 career strikeouts in 225 innings for an average of 13.4 strikeouts per game.

Named "Most Outstanding Performer" by Baseball Digest in 1957, Parent was also ranked among national leaders in slugging percentage and earned run average in both 1957 and 1959. His efforts led LSTC to three consecutive State Teachers Conference Championships.

In basketball, Parent also received fame with the best scoring average in the nation during 1959 with a 28.9 clip. He tallied 1,203 points in his four years - good for a 21.9 average - and set records for free throws made in a game (22), season (185) and career (463).

Parent played in the New York Yankees farm system for nearly five years. 

Following graduation from LSTC in 1959, Parent taught in the Wakefield (MA) and Lowell (MA) school systems. He was the principal at the Molly School in Lowell for many years.