Mike was born in Tecumseh, Nebraska, on August 3, 1943. Parents were George and Irene (McKean) Leahy. George, his father, was a business man who was involved in real estate, farming & ranching, automotive & implement dealerships, rental property, grocery stores, a bowling alley, etc. Irene, his mother, was an elementary teacher who was her high school's valadictorian. She taught for one year, 1928-29, in a rural school near Superior, Nebraska. In June of 1929 George and Irene were married. Irene helped in the family business adventures until she returned to teaching in the latter 1950s. From their marriage came three sons: Jerry (1932), Dan (1937) and Mike (1943). As a 3rd grader, Mike decided he was going to be a high school basketball coach and history teacher. An uncle, Don Leahy, who was an outstanding high school football coach, was a huge influence on his career. Mike was a head basketball coach for some 40 years. History led him to geneology and to this book.