Leo Schultz

Sir Joseph Leopold Schultz, OBE (4 February 1900 – 21 July 1991) was a British politician who was a dominant figure in Kingston upon Hull during the 20th century.

He was an active Labour councillor for many years, and was leader of Hull City Council from 1945 to 1979, except for two years 1969–1971 when Labour were in opposition.

Biography Leo Schultz was born in 1900, the son of a Polish immigrant, Solomon Schultz, and his wife Hinda (née Hiller).

At the age of 15 he came first in regional exams for a scholarship for Oxford University, but was told that the university was not a suitable choice for someone of his working-class background and Jewish religion.

In 1919 he met, and in 1928 married Kate (Kitty) Pickersgill.

Before the Second World War, Leo Schultz campaigned for Hull City Council to build bomb shelters. He was successful and the shelters helped save many lives. During the war, he was decorated for his work as an Air Raid Warden, and also served as Lord Mayor from 1942–3. His role in Kingston upon Hull's public life led him to receiving the moniker "Lion of Hull",

Kitty Schultz died in 1975, Leo Schultz died in 1991 aged 91.

Legacy The Schultz had a single son Lionel, They also adopted Robert Rosner, a Jewish-Austrian child who left continental Europe on the kindertransport, who became an architect in adult life.

Artist Nigel Boonham was commissioned to produce a full-size statue of Sir Leo Schultz,