District Governor Visit

In 1992, Leon was invited to visit the 350-member Rotary Club of Waco. He had recently become the Executive Director of a regional planning agency. Realizing that many of the key business and governmental leaders in the Waco area were active Rotarians, he quickly agreed to join. Although Leon joined Rotary to strengthen access to other leaders, he quickly learned the impact of joining forces with other Rotarians provided powerful opportunities to be of service in the community and around the world. Leon served eleven years in the Rotary Club of Waco with ten years of perfect attendance.

 

Leon and his high school sweetheart, Lynn, were born and reared in Palestine. After Leon graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in architecture and Lynn graduated with a degree in mathematics from Texas Christian University, they were married. Then they enrolled in graduate school at Texas A&M. Leon received a degree in Urban Planning and Lynn received a degree in Mathematics. Following college, Leon was commissioned an Officer in the Army Corps of Engineers and served at Ft Belvoir Virginia and eight years in the reserves. Leon and Lynn are proud of their two adult children, Melissa and Lee and their six grandchildren. During Leon’s professional career, he served eighteen years in the Governor’s Office of Planning and Economic Development, two years as the Executive Director of the State Property Tax Board, and twelve years as the Executive Director of the Heart of Texas Council of Governments, a regional planning agency in Waco. After nurturing the family from home until the children enrolled in school, Lynn entered Seminary to become a Methodist Pastor. Over 27 years, Lynn was able to serve 5 different churches.

 

After retirement in 2003, Leon and Lynn returned to Palestine. Leon served as President of the Palestine Economic Development Corporation and the Palestine Chamber of Commerce. He has served on the boards of numerous organizations including the YMCA, Meals on Wheels, and his local church. In 2004, Leon joined the Rotary Club of Palestine and continues to be an active member with 20 years of perfect attendance. Leon has served in director roles in service, membership and administration and has served as club President in 2009-10 and 2019-20. Leon is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the Paul Harris Society and a charter member of the Polio Plus Society. Leon was awarded the district 5910 Roll of Fame in 2012. Leon has served at the district level beginning with the RYLA Adult Leadership Team in 2005. He served as the leader of the RYLA Ropes Course at Woodlake for 5 years and continues to be an active leader. Leon has served as Assistant District Governor 2012-14 and 2021-23. Leon and Lynn’s heart for service led them to become volunteers on a Palestine Rotary Team that responded to Hurricane Harvey in 2017 mucking houses along the Texas coastal area. In 2019, Leon and Lynn traveled to India with a Team of Rotarians from the United States and Canada to participate in a National Polio Immunization Day to help eradicate Polio. In May 2023, Lynn followed in her father’s footsteps and joined Leon as a member of the Rotary Club of Palestine. 

DG Visit Schedule Coming Soon...