Monti, Leonard F., 1912-1997.

Leonard Fiorello Monti Sr. was born in Hibbing, Minnesota, February 28, 1912 to Italian parents. He served in World War II on an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. After the war, he was a railway agent and telegrapher. In 1947 he moved to Arizona and opened the restaurant Monti's Grill in Chandler. He then moved to Tempe and in 1954 bought "La Casa Vieja," the adobe hacienda built as a home by Charles Trumbull Hayden in 1871 and birthplace of Arizona U.S. Senator Carl Hayden. Leonard Sr. opened Monti's La Casa Vieja Restaurant in 1956. In 1970, Leonard Sr. ran as a Republican for the House of Representatives in District 8-D and lost. His son Michael attended Arizona State University where he received his Bachelor's degree. He then went on to San Diego State Law School and obtained his J.D. In 1993, he became President of Monti's La Casa Vieja and took over running the business for his father. On October 7, 1997, Leonard Sr. died. Today, Monti's La Casa Vieja is still in business after 50 years. For more information on the restaurant and its history, please see their website at: http://www.montis.com.