Jerris Leonard
Encyclopedia
Jerris Leonard was a Wisconsin
lawyer
and politician
.
, where he graduated from Rufus King High School
. He earned a B.S. in business administration in 1952 from Marquette University
, and in 1955 earned an LL.B. from Marquette University Law School
.
On August 22, 1953 he married Mariellen C. Mathie, with whom he had six children. He died on July 27, 2006 in Bethesda, Maryland
.
in 1956 to succeed William Kasik
from the 19th Milwaukee County district, which included the Town of Milwaukee
(but not the City of Milwaukee itself), Bayside
, Fox Point
, Glendale
, Granville
, River Hills
, Shorewood
, and Whitefish Bay
. He served two terms, and advanced to the Wisconsin State Senate
in 1960, serving two terms (1961–1969). He ran against United States Senator Gaylord Nelson
in the 1968 United States Senate election and was defeated.
1969 - 1973 during the administration of President Richard Nixon
, serving as the first Administrator of the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration
(LEAA).
, a multi-level marketing
company selling nutritional supplements, which was accused of deceptive practices and false claims, and eventually filed bankruptcy.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Background and personal life
Leonard was born on January 17, 1931 to Jerris and Marie Leonard in Chicago, Illinois. His family moved to Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, where he graduated from Rufus King High School
Rufus King High School
Rufus King International School--High School Campus, or Rufus King, is a public magnet high school located on the north side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, part of the Milwaukee Public Schools district. The school has been consecutively ranked the top public high school in the state of Wisconsin by...
. He earned a B.S. in business administration in 1952 from Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
, and in 1955 earned an LL.B. from Marquette University Law School
Marquette University Law School
Marquette University Law School is the professional school for the study of law at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and one of only two law schools in Wisconsin. With 45 full-time professors and approximately 760 J.D. students, the law school is ranked in the top tier among American...
.
On August 22, 1953 he married Mariellen C. Mathie, with whom he had six children. He died on July 27, 2006 in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
.
Legislative service
Leonard was first elected to the Wisconsin State AssemblyWisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1956 to succeed William Kasik
William Kasik
William R. Kasik was a Wisconsin businessman and insurance agent who served one term as a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 19th Milwaukee County district.- Background :...
from the 19th Milwaukee County district, which included the Town of Milwaukee
Milwaukee (town), Wisconsin
The Town of Milwaukee was a town in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin created on March 17, 1835. A number of Milwaukee County municipalities were created out of portions of it...
(but not the City of Milwaukee itself), Bayside
Bayside, Wisconsin
Bayside is a village in Milwaukee and Ozaukee counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 4,518 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bayside is located at ....
, Fox Point
Fox Point, Wisconsin
Fox Point is a village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,012 at the 2000 census.Fox Point is located along the North Shore area of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. It is named after a small point extending into Lake Michigan...
, Glendale
Glendale, Wisconsin
Glendale is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 13,367 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Glendale is located at ....
, Granville
Granville, Wisconsin
Granville was a town located in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. One portion was incorporated as the village of Brown Deer in 1955; the remainder was annexed by the city of Milwaukee in 1956. The latter became a neighborhood of Milwaukee.-History:...
, River Hills
River Hills, Wisconsin
River Hills is a village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,631.-Geography:River Hills is located at ....
, Shorewood
Shorewood, Wisconsin
Shorewood is a village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 13,763 at the 2000 census. Howell Raines of The New York Times said in 1979 that "[t]his maplestudded town on Lake Michigan dotes on its reputation as Milwaukee's most liberal suburb."-Geography:Shorewood is...
, and Whitefish Bay
Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
Whitefish Bay is a village in Milwaukee County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 13,508 as of the 2005 census.-Geography:Whitefish Bay is located at ....
. He served two terms, and advanced to the Wisconsin State Senate
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
in 1960, serving two terms (1961–1969). He ran against United States Senator Gaylord Nelson
Gaylord Nelson
Gaylord Anton Nelson was an American politician from Wisconsin who served as a United States Senator and governor. A Democrat, he was the principal founder of Earth Day.-Public service and leadership:...
in the 1968 United States Senate election and was defeated.
Federal service
He was in the United States Department of JusticeUnited States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
1969 - 1973 during the administration of President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
, serving as the first Administrator of the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration
Law Enforcement Assistance Administration
The Law Enforcement Assistance Administration was a U.S. federal agency within the U.S. Dept. of Justice. It administered federal funding to state and local law enforcement agencies, and funded educational programs, research, state planning agencies, and local crime initiatives.The LEAA was...
(LEAA).
United Sciences of America, Inc.
In the 1980s Leonard served as president of United Sciences of America, Inc.United Sciences of America, Inc.
United Sciences of America, Inc. was an American company that was accused of fraud and shut down in the 1980s. USA manufactured nutritional supplements such as "Master Formula," "Calorie Control Formula," "Fiber Energy Bar," and "Formula Plus," distributing them via multi-level marketing...
, a multi-level marketing
Multi-level marketing
Multi-level marketing is a marketing strategy in which the sales force is compensated not only for sales they personally generate, but also for the sales of others they recruit, creating a downline of distributors and a hierarchy of multiple levels of compensation...
company selling nutritional supplements, which was accused of deceptive practices and false claims, and eventually filed bankruptcy.