October 22nd (1919)

Oct. 22, 1919: Monsignor Louis F. Meyer is born. Known as “the Soccer Priest,” he will be a driving force behind the growth of the Catholic Youth Council, whose youth soccer programs will develop countless numbers of players who will compete at the college and professional levels. Teaming first with CYC director Monsignor Lloyd Sullivan in 1946 and then with future U.S. Soccer Hall of Famers and CYC sports directors Bob Guelker and Joe Carenza, Meyer will help bring soccer’s biggest teams and players to St. Louis, establish prestigious awards to recognize key contributors, and arrange sponsorships with powerful businesses. As the CYC’s associate director (1946-60) and director (1960-78), Meyer will oversee the CYC’s sponsorship of international matches between CYC all-stars and the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Celtic. On his watch, the CYC will reorganize junior soccer into a precursor of select soccer by organizing districts of several parishes, allowing players from those parishes to play on the district team rather than being restricted to their parish team. The Busch Major League will begin, providing highly competitive soccer for men, including college players, in the college off-season. Finally, the CYC will open soccer and other sports to girls in the late 1960s “Here in St. Louis, we have these leagues so kids can play and get a chance to go to college,” Meyer will tell Dave Lange in 2010. “And then, they can get good jobs and come back to help soccer.” Meyer will help soccer throughout his long life, which will end on May 14, 2011, at age 91.