Fr. Leo Aaron (1863-1927)

Francis Henry Aaron was born April 27, 1863, in St. Nicholas, Pa. The family later moved to Kickapoo, Kan., north of Leavenworth.  He entered St. Benedict’s High School in 1877 at age 14 and completed his high school plus two years of College.  He became a novice at St. Vincent Archabbey, took the name Leo and made simple vows July 11, 1883.  He was ordained to the priesthood in 1889 and began a long career of teaching the sciences and Latin at St. Benedict’s High School and College. He was creative and full of surprises.  He built an X-ray machine and a fluoroscope and offered movies to the entertainment-starved students,

In 1908 Abbot Innocent Wolf appointed Father Leo Prior of the Abbey.  He held that very important post for 14 years.  He orchestrated the 50th Anniversary of the ordination of Abbot Innocent, with special vestments made in Germany arriving one half hour before the ceremony. 

Father Leo served as Prior until 1922 when he had an attack of angina pectoris.  He died as a result of a heart attack May 11, 1925.