History & Culture

JIL was named for Dr. John Ireland Leonard (1886-1961). Dr. John Ireland Leonard was born in Joliet, Illinois, and received his B.S. Degree at Lombard College, Galesburg, Illinois; his M.A.E. at the University of Florida; and his Ed.D. at Florida Southern College. After being superintendent of Public Instruction for Palm Beach County from 1936 until 1947, he then became president of Palm Beach Junior College from 1948 to 1978. Upon retiring from Palm Beach Junior College in 1958, he accepted the Presidency of St. Leo College at St. Leo, Florida. He was the former President of Florida Association of Colleges and Universities and the Florida Association of Public Junior Colleges.

While Superintendent, he worked with Dr. G. Ballard Simmons in forming a program on in-service training for superintendents, which permitted them to work toward advanced degrees. He was the first to receive a degree under this program. His original doctorate was in Osteopathy, but a World War I injury to his hand forced him to change careers. He chose education.

During his tenure of office, he saw Palm Beach Junior College expand from a small classroom building at what was Palm Lakes High School, to further temporary quarters at the present International Airport, and at the Town Hall in Lake Park. His moving spirit brought about arrangements for the County to grant the Present campus site to the embryo college.

As president of the first public junior college in Florida, he was affectionately known as "Mr. Junior College." Dr. Leonard believed that an institution should provide opportunities for the student to grow educationally, vocationally, and spiritually and to these principles he devoted his professional life. Dr. Leonard had the faith and vision that Palm Beach Junior College would be a great institution, even during the days when campus moving was frequent and registration limited. When he achieved the present 114 acres and $41,000,000 for buildings, his dreams came true.

John I. Leonard Community High School was dedicated and opened its doors for the first time in August of 1965. At that time it consisted of grades 7 through 10 and had a student body of 950 students. It was almost at the extreme edge of population and Tenth Avenue had not yet been constructed.

In June, 1968, the first class of 200 students graduated. Since that time there have been three major building projects and the school has doubled in acreage. Today there are about 140 faculty members and 70 noninstructional staff members serving approximately 3,000 students.