[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 1, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





           CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF WILLIAM S. ``BUD'' LEONARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BRIAN BABIN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 1, 2020

  Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of 
William S. ``Bud'' Leonard. Mr. Leonard left this earth on Monday, June 
29, 2020 at the age of 90 years. Mr. Leonard was born in Kingsville, 
Texas on July 9, 1929, the second child of William and Effie Leonard. 
His father was an Irish railroad man and his mother a first-generation 
U.S.-born child of Italian immigrants.
  In junior high, Bud met his first love--football, a love affair that 
would eventually take him through college at Lamar University. It was 
at Lamar where Mr. Leonard won the heart of the love of his life, his 
wife Charlene Matthews Leonard whom he married in 1953, embarking on 
66-and-a half years of a blessed life together. Shortly after marriage, 
Mr. Leonard joined the United States Navy where he trained to become an 
airplane pilot and rose to the rank of Lieutenant. Mr. Leonard earned 
his Wings of Gold in 1955 and served tours that took him from 
California to Hawaii, Guam, Japan, and the Philippines before being 
released from active duty in 1957.
  Following Mr. Leonard's active duty, he and his wife returned to 
Texas in 1958 and settled in Beaumont.
  Mr. Leonard began a successful career in advertising and remained 
close to Lamar University where he was instrumental in forming the 
Cardinal Club, Ex Letterman's Association and the Cardinal Hall of 
Honor. In 1974, he was called by Dr. John E. Gray to join the 
Administration at the University where he remained until his first 
retirement in 1994 as Vice Chancellor of Development. Following his 
retirement, he returned for one year to teach at Lamar and then started 
his own consulting/advertising company which he did until he retired 
for a second time at age 87.
  Lamar honored Mr. Leonard's contribution to the University on and off 
the field by naming the stadium playing field the W.S. ``Bud'' Leonard 
field in his honor. In addition to many other honors he was also named 
Distinguished Alumnus in 2000.
  Closely intertwined with his community, Mr. Leonard served in the Art 
Museum of Southeast Texas, Neches River Festival and the Greater 
Beaumont Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife were active members of 
their beloved Calder Baptist Church for over 60 years where he served 
as Deacon and a Sunday school teacher.
  He is survived by his loving wife Charlene, daughter Joni, son Will 
and his twin granddaughters, Anne and Claire who were the apples of his 
eye.
  A wordsmith and artist with a servant's heart, Mr. Leonard made the 
world a better place.

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