Sadly, we announce the passing of Louis Legat, former PHOBIAN
Many old boys will remember Louis as a passionate and professional PBHSOB club estate manager, a role he held for many years. Louis joined PHOBIANS as a runner in the late ‘80s. During his time with the club, he served and chaired the running club section committee and the PBHSOB club committee with great enthusiasm.
Louis’ life can only be described as an adventure.
Louis, the oldest of three boys, was born Alois Legat in Hartburg, Austria in 1946. His family were farmers and lived in the village of Bad Waltersdorf. The family farmed pigs, fruit, and vegetables. Louis spoke fondly of when he was a boy, the family pig farm, and the long truck trips with his father to Munich to sell their produce. He left home in his early teens, as was common at the time, to attend hotel school where he studied to be a chef. Later in life, he would use these skills to feed and entertain many of the PHOBIANS runners at the Loskop Ultra and on the days when Louis and Shirley hosted the Tuesday night running club.
In the early 60’s Louis found himself in swinging London. We have several photographs of a dapper and fashionable Austrian walking on Carnaby street and the like. He worked on the Channel Islands for a brief period and did several seasons as a ski guide in St. Anton.
In the late 60’s the growth of the modern hotel industry in South Africa had just started. Louis came out to South Africa with a contingency of Europeans to help accelerate the growth of the industry. Louis was never scared of the unknown and always saw the potential opportunity over potential obstacles. He joined the Boulevard Hotel in Pretoria where he would work for the next 16 years. He would later lead the hotel as General Manager and significantly impact the business and its employees. Years later, when a family member attended the Johannesburg Hotel School, we found out that Louis is considered one of the founding fathers of South Africa’s hotel industry.
Louis met Shirley Brough in 1970, and they married in 1972. Andrew was born two years later, and Samantha was born in 1977.
Louis made a significant impact on the lives of many at the Boulevard. His purpose in life was to serve. He despised injustice and set exacting standards. Everyone was treated equally, and guests were respected. Louis and Shirley made lifelong friends with several people involved at the hotel. Many Old Boys who worked in the Pretoria CBD in the 70s and 80s have kindly shared their memories of Louis at the Boulevard.
Louis left the Boulevard in 1984. I remember it being a sad time for our family; as a 10-year-old I grew up at the Boulevard. I recall, for many years afterward, Louis’ ex-colleagues and employees from all walks of life would visit us in our Hatfield home to thank him for what he had given them. They would often bring their family with them. Louis enjoyed these visits immensely. He was always incredibly humble; he loved people and loved to spend time sharing stories. Louis went on to become an entrepreneur in the restaurant and catering industry in Pretoria.
Louis was an avid smoker as any Austrian farmer. He was known for tapping a fresh Camel plain on his cigarette box every few minutes. He kicked the habit in the mid ‘80s. Quitting nicotine led to weight gain, which led to Louis joining Run/Walk for life. Louis was disciplined, stubborn, and competitive, traits needed by an endurance athlete. Six years later, Louis ran his first Comrades marathon. Always in PHOBIANS colours, he would complete six Comrades, six Oceans, countless Ultras, and countless standard distance events. Many years later, PHOBIANS would honor Louis with a lifetime membership.
He was always a member of the inner circles and was a key member of the Tuesday night Running Club and the Burns Night Ten to mention a few. Often these memberships involved food and entertaining. Old boys and friends fondly recall the Paellas in the Weber lunches and the German sausages for Louis’ birthday each year at the Loskop Ultra.
In 2009 Louis became Estate Manager at the Old Boys club. He was an avid gardener and was immensely fond of the club. Again, during his time with PHOBIANS, he formed lifelong friends and often expressed his privilege to serve the members and Old Boys Association. He made a significant contribution to running the club and establishing sound food business principles. He was especially fond of the club’s association with the School. He talked with emotion about the school and reveled in the opportunity to serve the Old Boys Association and the School at the annual Years On events.
He loved the school as an old boy.
At this time, Mr. Bill Schroder had embarked on the school hall fundraising initiative and had moved into an office at the club. By all accounts from Bill and Louis, many engaging conversations ensued between the two men.
When Louis stopped running, he took up bowls at PHOBIANS. He brought his competitiveness to the green as I am sure many bowlers will remember. His weekend bowls performance was evident in his mood on Sunday afternoons.
In 2017, Louis and Shirley moved to kloof, KZN. His association with the club continued but, for the first time in decades, he no longer played a direct role in its affairs. In short order, he joined Hillcrest Bowling Club and took up the position of Bar Manager. Several of the Hillcrest members related their experience of Louis to me with fondness. In a brief time, he made an impact on many of their lives. He proceeded to serve at Hillcrest as he did at the Boulevard Hotel, as he did on the Arcadia Primary PA, as he did at Christ The King Catholic Church in Queenwood, and as he did at PHOBIANS.
My father’s life was a never-ending adventure, and he a brave adventurer, from Waltersdorf, Styria, to Kloof KZN. We are privileged to have been a part of it and to have been a witness to it.
He will be sorely missed by many.
In loving member of Alois Legat (1946 to 2022).
Submitted by his son, Andrew Legat
