Reid Gamewell Leonard

Reid Gamewell Leonard, 96, of Salisbury, a WWII Army Infantry Veteran, passed away Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at his home surrounded by his family. A life-long Tar Heel fan and an admirer of Abraham Lincoln, Reid was born March 1, 1927 in Lexington, NC to Tice Leonard and Daisy Lee Reid Leonard, living there until he moved his young family to Salisbury to open Vogue Dry Cleaners which he owned and operated until his retirement in 1986. After graduating from Lexington High School and serving in the Infantry until the end of the war, Reid completed course work at the University of Mississippi, Presbyterian College and Catawba College, then entered the UNC School of law and later worked in the Federal Courthouse in Greensboro before moving to Salisbury. By the 1960’s, Reid had become active in community affairs. He served as chairman of the American Red Cross and was instrumental in the construction and naming of the Elizabeth Hanford Dole Chapter building. He served on the board of the United Way and for 30 years served on the Board of Directors and as treasurer of Nazareth Children’s Home. A member of First United Methodist Church, Reid served several terms on the Administrative Board, was Sunday School Superintendent, and a teacher for the Senior High Class. Serving on the Parks and Recreation Board and the Hurley Park Board allowed Reid to participate in the growth and development of the park system. Reid was named Lions’ Club Man of the year and served as president of the Salisbury Rotary Club of which he was proud to be a member for 70 years and a Paul Harris Fellow. During those years Reid organized the Rotary Spring and Fall Tennis Tournaments, whose funds benefitted Rotary International’s goal to eradicate Polio worldwide. Tennis clinics and equipment for at-risk children also received funding from these tournaments. His proudest achievement as a Rotarian is the Patriots Memorial and Flag Honor Concourse located at the site of the NC National Guard Armory at the City Park. With memorials for WWI, WWII and Vietnam War already in place, Reid’s vision continues to live as his fellow club members have picked up the challenge to build an Arch of Freedom as well as memorials for the Korean Conflict, Afghanistan and Desert Storm. For his devotion to this project Reid received the Distinguished Rotarian Award and most recently a plaque dedicating the Patriots Arch in his honor. One of Reid’s most challenging, yet worthwhile undertakings was serving the students of Salisbury as a member of the Salisbury City Board of Education from 1969-1989, holding the chairman’s position from 1979-1989 during the time of integration and then the merger with the Rowan County Board of Education. Always with the children’s interest and well being in the forefront, Reid and the board members successfully maneuvered through those turbulent times. Even after the two school boards merged, Reid continued to serve the students and educational staff while sitting on the Interim School Board for another year. While Salisbury City Board Chairman, he also served on and presided over several National School Board Association Committees across the country. During his tenure as Salisbury Board Chairman and because of his love for music and strong support of music in schools, Reid was honored with the naming of the Music/Art Building at Salisbury High School. In addition to his parents, Reid is preceded in death by his brothers, XL Leonard, Edward Leonard, Nicholas Leonard, Calvin Leonard, Donald Leonard, and Rabb Leonard, sisters, Lyndol Leonard Head and Patsy Leonard Woodruff and nephews Don Leonard and Greg Leonard. Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 74 years, Mary Sue Thomason Leonard; son, Gary Leonard (Amber) of Temple, GA; daughters, Beverly Leonard of Salisbury and Susan Leonard Fonville (Bill) of Raleigh; brother, Bobby Leonard (Becky) of Potamic, MD; grandchildren, Douglas Leonard (Vicki) of Marietta, GA, Lisa Leonard Jackson (Daniel) of Carrolton GA, Braxton Fonville (Jessica) of Bloomfield Hills, MI, Anna Reid Fonville Esoda (Jackson) of Atlanta, GA; great-grandsons, Zach Jackson, Ben Jackson and Rusty Leonard; and nieces and nephews who were most dear to him. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 25) at First United Methodist Church, officiated by Rev. Fred Jordan. The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that expressions of love be made to complete Reid’s dream to build the remaining memorials at the Honor Concourse. Checks may be made payable to: Salisbury Rotary Charities (on memo line indicate “Honor Concourse”), Rotary Club of Salisbury, PO Box 4092, Salisbury, NC 28145. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Leonard family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Reid Gamewell Leonard

March 1, 1927 - November 15, 2023