Leonard would say "One cool thing about having a motorcycle is that you always have a portable lawn chair." Leonard and his (lawn chair) Harley Sturgis at the B&B near "dutch lane."
Forge-Anvil-Hammer and Iron along with the BLACKSMITH...the possibilities are endless. Leonard would call blacksmithing, "working iron" and any time Leonard witnessed anyone involved in welding/iron working, Leonard would praise the worker with "get it! get it! work that iron!" A praise inherited from Leonard's Blacksmith Father P.H. De Leon.
Leonard was a life long skilled Craftsman earning a living as a Welder, Fabricator, Heavy Equipment/Crane Operator and Rigger. Leonard's skills took him to various oil field equipment fabrication companies located between Houston and Aransas Pass, Texas.
Leonard once had a friend named Moe that road a 100 inch "stroker"
Leonard admired Moe and the man's courage to throw a leg on and ride such a (as leonard put it) "radical" motorcycle. "Radical" in the fact that almost all Harley-Davidsons (at the time) were 74 cubic inches.
Moe way surpassed the saying of the day, "seventy four or more" with his 100 inch "stroker."
The radio announcement went:"All roads lead to Austin on September 1st for ZZ Top's First Annual B-B-Q and Barn Dance". ZZ Top Headlined that day with Santana, Bad Company and Joe Cocker warming up the crowd.
The slogan going around those days was:"Beautify America, Get A Haircut." That slogan/bumper sticker came and went! These "wild-n-crazy" guys lived by, the never old saying: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"
Leonard always knew how to have a good time by giving a "putt" to the chicks. Leonard is here with a cousin riding on "little bro's" 76flh...All Smiles!...all the way.
Leonard once owned an early model Harley "shovel-head" chopper.
leonard had "it all going on" with that chopper in looks and style (on a budget). No doubt "old skool" and way, way forward with the envision of a chopper or bobber. Pullback handlebars, bobbed rear fender, "slab" side engine lower case. The pure essence of simple style....LEONARD HAD THE TOUCH! and "touched" us all.
Leonard's favorite outside "party favor" was to light up the old discarded christmas tree laying in the back yard. Leonard did this "favor" for the party goers at his b-day party in Tommy's back yard.
Leonard had a lot of pet dogs in his lifetime and probably favored "kilo" the most.
Leonard once had the "pick of the litter" of some Norwegian Elkhound puppies. Leonard picked the biggest puppy of the litter, hence the name, "Kilo". "Kilo" was a very intelligent K-9 and picked up commands and tricks with little or no re-inforcment in training. Leonard would (at every chance) take "Kilo" to the park for a few rounds of catch the frisbee. "Kilo" had natural talent to catch the frisbee in his jaw while jumping in mid-air. People at the park would be sit and be amazed as "Kilo" did his thing.
Leonard thought of his dog "Kilo" as a STUD and would let him out to prowl the hood and as Leonard would put it, "...get some (tail) from some female dog..."
One night "Kilo" did not return home and Leonard received a phone call the next day from the local Veterinarian holding "Kilo's" tags.
"Kilo" had been shot by someone a couple of blocks away. "Kilo" was a very strong dog and tried to crawl back to Leonard's house, only making some 20 to 30 feet. A "concerned citizen" called the Vet and "Kilo" was identified.
Leonard recovered "Kilo" and took him to a pet cemetery on the south side of big "H" for a decent funeral and burial.
"Kilo" was a brother to Leonard with all the love a man could have with a K-9.
Leonard would have liked you to drop in for a visit and a good time. A place and a state of mind where you could always "Be Yourself", kick-back and enjoy the roller-coaster ride. Please leave a comment or two or some ramblings about your "brush with fame" with Leonard. Leonard had many (too many to count) friends and he is well missed but will never be forgotten.
updates to follow.
If you have...any photos of Leonard...any stories (text) of Leonard...any urban or rural legends of Leonard...to share, please send them to: itchyrider@gmail.com You will be given full credit for any information. thank you and enjoy