Lawrence Leonard, Jr.

Lawrence Henry Leonard, Jr., known to all as “Bootsie,” passed away on August 10, 2023.

Born in Winchester on September 4, 1938 to Lawrence H. Leonard, Sr. and Catherine (Waddell) Leonard, Bootsie was raised in Aldie, moved to Arcola in his teenage years, and graduated from Loudoun County High School in 1955, one year after the newly consolidated school had opened its doors.

He attended Shepherd College in West Virginia , where he was a two-sport standout in both football and baseball, and was named the college’s Outstanding Athlete his senior year. He met his wife Suzie while a student at Shepherd and they soon embarked upon a wonderful 61-year marriage.

Upon graduation, Leonard began a successful 40-year career as a teacher, coach and administrator. He started at Loudoun Valley High School when it opened in 1962, and he served as the school’s Athletic Director for 36 years. While serving as head baseball coach, his 1972 squad captured the first state championship for any high school in Loudoun County in any sport. He also served as head football coach from 1962-1971. Leonard was named Athletic Director of the Year in 1996 by the Virginia Athletic Administrators Association, and upon retirement in 2001 the school named its stadium “Leonard Stadium” in his honor. Further, Leonard has the unique honor of being inducted into three separate athletic halls of fame: Loudoun County High School, Loudoun Valley High School, and Shepherd College.

Beyond the athletic fields, Leonard had a tremendous impact upon the western Loudoun community, as literally thousands of students felt his firm and disciplined, yet empathetic, approach to sports and life, with countless many returning to thank him later in life for his guidance and support along the way. He considered those interactions to be to be among his proudest moments.

His retirement days were filled with family and sports, as he imparted his lessons upon his four granddaughters. With family always being first, Leonard felt supporting others required being present. As such, he and his wife were mainstays at all their granddaughters’ games, no matter the sport.

Leonard is survived by his wife, Suzie, a retired teacher, daughter Robin and son Chris (and his wife, Stacie). His pride and joy are his four granddaughters: Megan, Mariah, Ashley, and Abby. He also is survived by two brothers, Danny and Bunny Leonard.

All are invited to join the Leonard family to remember and celebrate the life of a tremendous man. A visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m., followed by a memorial service starting at 11:00 a.m., at Purcellville Baptist Church on Saturday, August 26. A reception will follow on-site.