Bill Leonard

Attorney and longtime Fort Worth resident, Billy Alexander “Bill” Leonard died at home on Sunday, April 6, 2014. He was 79 years old. Born in Cleburne, Texas to Jesse Dodson and Carrie Lee Alexander Leonard on January 30, 1935, Bill grew up and attended school in Cleburne, graduating in May of 1953. Bill Leonard played football for Cleburne High under the legendary Coach Brooks W. Conover. Bill matriculated at Texas Technological University in 1953 where he played football and graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance. Bill was a lifelong fan of the Fighting Cleburne Yellow Jackets and the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Although he had been a Coast Guard reservist, Bill joined the Army in 1957 and spent two years stationed at Fort Collins, Colorado where he played football and baseball for the base teams and was company clerk. Bill said he was named company clerk because he was the only recruit foolish enough to raise his hand when the sergeant asked who among them could type. While stationed in Colorado, Bill became engaged to Cleburne native Janet “Jan” Turner and the two married at First Baptist Church, Cleburne in 1959. Jan preceded Bill in death in November of 2013. Bill and Jan had three children: Ben Dodson Leonard, Bake Roberts Leonard and Mollie Kathryn Renforth née Leonard.
In the early years of their marriage, Bill worked in oil field equipment sales in far west Texas. Bill and Jan divorced in 1965. In 1966, Bill enrolled at Baylor School of Law in Waco, Texas and began classes the same day his eldest son, Ben, began first grade. Bill earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree at Baylor in 1968 and was licensed to practice law in Texas in November of that year. Bill worked as a prosecutor at the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office for six years and was a felony court chief prosecutor when he left to begin his solo criminal law practice in 1974. Bill practiced criminal law for forty-five years, maintaining offices in Cleburne and Fort Worth, Texas.
In 1974, Bill married Lahoma Walden. They were married for five years and remained lifelong friends. She will forever be his “favorite ex-wife.”
Bill Leonard was a kind and gentle man who fought for the underdog and had a fierce desire to see justice done. Over the years he represented many clients who could not pay and who had no one else to turn to for help. He made many, many friends inside and outside of the courthouse. Bill treated everyone with respect and courtesy without regard to their status or ability to advance his interests. Bill had a heart for helping people and did so generously.
Bill loved his children and grandchildren and in the last fifty years was present at every important event, game, competition or milestone in their lives. Bill loved being a Grandpaw immensely! He adored his grand-daughters and was very proud of the beautiful and accomplished young ladies they have become. He also loved his extended family and spending time with his big sister, “Winkie,” as well as his many nephews and nieces and their children. He would often visit his West Texas relatives, eschewing Interstate 20 for the “back way” to Lubbock and Ralls driving through Jacksboro, Wichita Falls, Benjamin and Guthrie. He was possessed of a dry wit and forgiving nature. His memory was epic and he could recall with great detail stories from his childhood growing up on the east side in Cleburne and attending grade school at Santa Fe elementary. Bill enjoyed playing golf, watching Red Raider football, the books of Louis L’Amour, the art of G. Harvey and the music of Willie Nelson.
Bill Leonard is survived by his son, Ben Leonard and his wife, Stacy, of Fort Worth, Texas and his daughter, Mollie Leonard Renforth, her husband, James David II and their children, Grace and Emily of Willow Park, Texas. Bill is also survived by his sister, Winnie Mae Leonard Brown of Wichita Falls, Texas and her children: Gordy Lynn Brown, his wife Cindy, of Austin, Texas and their children and grandchildren; Marcia Brown Bernhardt, her husband Mike and their children and grandchildren and Ginger Brown Shirley, her husband Randy and their children, all of Wichita Falls, Texas. Bill is further survived by his sister-in-law, Billie Jeane Leonard and her children: Luanne Leonard Bailey and her daughter and grandchildren; Stephanie Lea Leonard Berg, her husband Eric and their children and grandchild; and her son, Brent Leonard, his wife LuAnne Walker Leonard and their children and grandchildren, all of Cleburne, Texas. Bill is survived by his “adopted” children, William Mathew Murski of Brenham, Texas and Jonnie Aura Stephens of Cleburne, Texas as well.
Preceding Bill in death were his father and mother, Jesse and Carrie Leonard; his brother, C.V. Leonard; and his very beloved son, Bake.
Funeral services for Bill Leonard will be held at Rosser Funeral Home in Cleburne, Texas at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 12, 2014 with the Rev. Jerry Melson officiating. A graveside service at Rosehill Cemetery will follow. Visitation for friends and family will be at Rosser Funeral Home in Cleburne from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, April 11, 2014.
Bill’s family is grateful to his honorary pallbearers Bobby Fulfer, Kenneth Self, Paul Lewallen, Ronnie Long, Rafael Ward, Dick Powell, Jim Shaw, Tom Dodge, David Guinn and Don Turner. We could fill a page of newsprint with people Bill loved enough to bear him in death. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials in Bill’s name be made to any organization that assists people or animals in need.