Fred Montgomery ’64 will receive the Richard L. Duchossois ’40 Integrity and Values Alumni Award at Morgan Park Academy’s 152nd graduation exercises on June 7, 2025.
The Duchossois Award is Morgan Park Academy’s highest award for alumni, given annually in recognition of its namesake’s lifetime achievements, outstanding professional success, and service to the Academy, his community, and society.
Previous recipients are Duchossois, Frank Burd ’52, C. Denny Cresap ’52, Joseph X. Grassi ’43, William Hickey ’71, Al Hoffman Jr. ’52, D. Stephen Menzies ’73, Jim Mitchell ’61, Kenneth Mortenson ’63, Rajeev Rathi ’84, Spencer Stuart ’40, and Jerome A. Thrall ’44.
“Mr. Montgomery has been for years a tremendous supporter of the Academy and its students and faculty,” Head of School Mercedes Z. Sheppard said. “His contributions to both our school and his communities make him truly a fitting recipient of the Duchossois Award. We are thrilled to recognize him in this way at Commencement.”
Long one of Morgan Park Academy’s most enthusiastic and generous supporters, Montgomery worked as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois, as Special Counsel for the Illinois Department of Revenue, and as a tax executive for Sara Lee Corporation.
He has held leadership roles in numerous professional, civic, and charitable organizations, including the Civic Federation, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and the Tax Executives Institute.
In retirement, he has continued to give back to our community, helping small businesses in Chicago as a volunteer mentor for the Neighborhood Entrepreneurship Lab (NEL) and now a group he calls NEL 2.0.
Montgomery also is a member of Morgan Park Academy’s Athletic Walk of Fame, inducted in September 2024.
He holds a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, a Master’s in education from Stanford University, and an economics degree from Swarthmore College.
