Lewis University Airport
| Lewis University Airport | |||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
| Owner/Operator | Joliet Regional Port Dist. | ||||||||||||||
| Serves | Chicago, Romeoville, Illinois | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Romeoville, Illinois | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 680 ft / 207 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 41°36′26″N 088°05′46″W / 41.60722°N 88.09611°W | ||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||
 LOT
LOT
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Source: FAA and airport website
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| Aircraft operations | 104,000 |
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| Based aircraft | 203 |
Lewis University Airport (IATA: LOT, ICAO: KLOT, FAA LID: LOT) is a public airport located 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Chicago, in the village of Romeoville in Will County, Illinois, United States. The Joliet Regional Port District assumed ownership of the airport in 1989. The National Weather Service Chicago, Illinois (Chicago Forecast Office) is adjacent to the airport.
The Great Depression brought tremendous despair to Chicago's inner city families, and many adolescent boys slipped into trouble with the law. Bishop Bernard J. Sheil knew that in the right surroundings, boys could be coached toward productive, law-abiding lives. The Catholic Youth Organization, which he founded in 1930, was a start. But Bishop Sheil dreamed of removing smart boys of low means from their depressed situation, and launching them onto a solid career path. Charles Lindbergh's great flight three years earlier had galvanized the nation toward the glamour and promise of aviation, so that same year, with no idea of where to get funding, Sheil founded the Holy Name School of Aeronautics. Coincidentally, Michael and Frances Fitzpatrick, devout Catholics who had homesteaded Lockport in the early nineteenth century, approached Cardinal Mundelein of the Chicago Archdiocese. They offered to donate 160 acres to the Church for "whatever purpose it might best be used." To the bishop and many others, the synchrony of these two events seemed divinely inspired. Michael Fitzpatrick (with shovel) and the general officers of the Holy Name Society break ground for "Holy Name Technical School" on February 9, 1931.
Newspapers reported that Bishop Sheil, despite his dedication to this moment, was unable to be present, "due to unforeseen circumstances which demanded his presence in Chicago." Owing to the aeronautical focus of Bishop Sheil's vision, the first building erected was a combined hangar, machine shop and classroom structure. A second floor housed a dormitory, electric shop, washroom and office. An administration building was also erected, with dining, kitchen and faculty accommodations. Both were completed and operational in 1932. It is interesting to note that the original hangar was built well before the school had a single aircraft to maintain, or a runway from which to fly it. That was remedied when the school purchased a damaged Ryan monoplane --sister ship to Lindbergh's -at auction for $510, with the intention of using it for ground training. In 1932 Chicago philanthropist Frank J. Lewis offered his support for the bishop's dream. Earlier that year Lewis lost his son, an aviation enthusiast, in a tragic airplane accident, and he saw an opportunity to create a remembrance.
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