 Leathers
also lives in Huntsville, although he spends much of his
time at his Leon County ranch. He retired as vice president
for facilities and operations at Sam Houston State in
1987. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received
in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, earned his
Ph.D. from the University of Texas, worked in industry,
and was a teacher and administrator for 37 years in Texas
public schools before coming to SHSU in 1969. In addition
to supervising the expenditure of approximately $50 million
in construction and land purchases for SHSU, Leathers
organized and served as president of the Stephen F. Austin
Area School Study Council, and has been a leader in the
United Methodist Texas Conference and First Methodist
Church of Huntsville. He has served as a Jurisdictional
Conference Delegate and as a member of the National Board
of Higher Education and Ministry. Other memberships include
the Texas Association of School Administrators, Texas
State Teachers Association, and Texas Association of Senior
College Business Officials, an organization which he served
as president in 1976. Leathers' many honors and awards
include selection to Who's Who in American Education,
Texas Educator of the Month, Outstanding Young Man of
the South, Lufkin Booster of the Month, Honorary Life
Membership by the Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers,
membership in the Phi Delta Kappa educational fraternity,
and receipt of honorary Chapter Farmer Degrees by FFA
chapters in Alvin and Lufkin. During his 18 years at SHSU
he supervised the planning and construction of nine major
buildings and the renovation and demolition of several
others. His special pride is the Johnson Coliseum. Early
in his work at SHSU he gave leadership to developing more
reliable air conditioning and fresh water supply systems
and placing electrical lines underground. Leathers and
his wife, Lyndall, have three children and three grandchildren.
She earned her master's degree from SHSU in 1953. |
