LEXINGTON — Dr. Theodore Leonard, a former chairman of the Catawba College board of
trustees, died Wednesday. He was 80.In
1980, Leonard stepped in as interim president at Catawba, the college’s 17th
president, and initiated efforts to reduce a deficit that was crushing the college. He
served as president from May 1980 until February 1981. Dr. Stephen Wurster replaced him.
Later honored with the Trustee Award, Leonard was
remembered as a president who cared about students, enough to roust them out of bed when
they missed class.
A native of Davidson County, Leonard graduated
from Lexington High School and earned an undergraduate degree from Catawba. He went on to
earn a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Catawba
gave him an honorary doctorate in 1976.
Leonard worked for 36 years in Davidson County
schools.
He began his career teaching in Rowan County but
moved to Reeds School in Davidson County for four years. In 1946, he entered the Lexington
City Schools, teaching for seven years before he was promoted to principal in 1953. He led
the Lexington Junior High and Middle schools for 16 years before taking the position of
assistant superintendent with the city system in 1969.
Leonard joined Catawba College’s board of
trustees in 1966.
When the college recognized Leonard at a Service
of Thanksgiving, President J. Fred Corriher Jr. said: Leonard “and his lovely wife,
Jacqueline, who have no children of their own, through a lifetime of commitment have
adopted thousands of sons and daughters.”
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