George Neves Leitão was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on October 22, 1912 to Ana Silva Garcia and António Neves Leitão, both originally immigrants from Brava, Cape Verde. His surname was anglicised to "Leighton" by a teacher who claimed she could not pronounce his last name "Leitão". His parents agreed.(1)
Through his own studying and attending night school, Leighton was able to make his way to Howard University. Marcelino Charles "Big Daddy" Grace helped fund his first year at the university. After graduating with honors, he attended Harvard Law School. During his studies, he entered the U.S. Army in World War II and achieved the rank of Captain.(2)
Leighton served as a Master in Chancery for the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois from 1960–64. He was elected as a judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, serving from 1964–69. He was appointed as a judge with the Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, serving from 1969-76. He was the first African-American to hold this position in Illinois.(1) President Gerald Ford nominated him the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He was confirmed by the Senate in 1976, making him the first Cape Verdean-American in the federal judiciary.
As a young boy in New Bedford, he took up chess at a informal boy's club run by Mary Hayden. "She had a 'burden' to help underprivileged kids," he recalled in a 1987, local cable TV interview with host Jack Custodio. Over the years, Mr. Leighton made a number of gifts in her memory to the United States Chess Federation. "No one has ever given me a greater gift than she did," he said.(3)
He had a lifelong passion for chess. At his peak, Judge Leighton was a strong expert.(4) Leighton died on June 6, 2018 in Brockton, Massachusetts at age 105.(1)
The George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago is named for him.
(1) Wikipedia article: George N. Leighton
(2) https://thecreolagenealogist.com/20...
(3) http://www.thechessdrum.net/histori...
(4) http://chicagochess.blogspot.com/20...
(5) http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...