I am so sad to read about Leslie. He was one of the nicest fellow students in our class at both Mirror Lake Jr High and SPHS. One time he invited me over to his home for an afternoon to swim in his pool. I was not used to such luxuries as a POOL in one's yard. We had a very nice time.
He was an amazing swimmer and I think he competed in many local competitions. Because of those activities he was really strong. At Mirror Lake one year we had the Presidents Physical Fitness competition. Many of you may recall that President John F. Kennedy advocated physical fitness programs in schools nationwide at that time.
I wanted to "be somebody" at Mirror Lake Junior High, probably like so many of us who were going through the process of growing up and maturing. So weeks before the school competition, to practice, I worked up to doing 100 pushups every night. I also did a lot of situps, I cannot recall how many of those. I wanted to do more than anyone else at Mirror Lake to win one of those two categories. On the fateful day, I did 150 pushups and nearly that many situps in the five minutes alotted to each exercise. I won the pushup contest and Leslie came in second. Leslie won the situp title. I cannot recall how close I was to his situp score. But I recall he said he could have done many more pushups if he had thought anyone else would come close to him. I was thankful he didn't since I had my 5 minutes of FAME. I have no doubt he could have beaten me.
Another time at Mirror Lake he showed how brave he was. One of our classmates picked a fight with him. Believe me, Leslie wouldn't have done anything to offend anyone. But he agreed to meet the boy after school in the alley that led from the boys locker room on the east side to the field on the west side of the school. When he arrived, before the fight started the boy drew a knife and threatened Leslie. Leslie said he hadn't agreed to a knife fight and fortunately the fight never took place. But I was impressed at Leslie's bravery.
I never was close to Leslie as a long-term friend. But I still frequently recall those incidents which shaped our lives and what a very nice person Leslie was to me and to all at Mirror Lake Jr High and at SPHS as far as I knew.
PS I hadn't realized that Leslie's Birthday was on November 28, 1950. MIne is November 29, 1949. He probably beat me at pushups because he was younger! ha ha
Leslie was not only on the swim team at SPHS, but he competed up to and including the State level. His house was one of the few that I knew at the time that had it's own swimming pool, so the entire family was into swimming competitions. I think the pool and house are still there, at the corner of 7th Avenue North & 29 Street. I believe he placed even at the state level, he was that good. And, yes, he was one of the nicest people I have ever known.
Fred Feld
RIP Old Buddy. We used to walk together to West Central Elmentary along 7th Avenue North. Sad to see he is gone. Fred Feld.
Michael D. Hicks
I am so sad to read about Leslie. He was one of the nicest fellow students in our class at both Mirror Lake Jr High and SPHS. One time he invited me over to his home for an afternoon to swim in his pool. I was not used to such luxuries as a POOL in one's yard. We had a very nice time.
He was an amazing swimmer and I think he competed in many local competitions. Because of those activities he was really strong. At Mirror Lake one year we had the Presidents Physical Fitness competition. Many of you may recall that President John F. Kennedy advocated physical fitness programs in schools nationwide at that time.
I wanted to "be somebody" at Mirror Lake Junior High, probably like so many of us who were going through the process of growing up and maturing. So weeks before the school competition, to practice, I worked up to doing 100 pushups every night. I also did a lot of situps, I cannot recall how many of those. I wanted to do more than anyone else at Mirror Lake to win one of those two categories. On the fateful day, I did 150 pushups and nearly that many situps in the five minutes alotted to each exercise. I won the pushup contest and Leslie came in second. Leslie won the situp title. I cannot recall how close I was to his situp score. But I recall he said he could have done many more pushups if he had thought anyone else would come close to him. I was thankful he didn't since I had my 5 minutes of FAME. I have no doubt he could have beaten me.
Another time at Mirror Lake he showed how brave he was. One of our classmates picked a fight with him. Believe me, Leslie wouldn't have done anything to offend anyone. But he agreed to meet the boy after school in the alley that led from the boys locker room on the east side to the field on the west side of the school. When he arrived, before the fight started the boy drew a knife and threatened Leslie. Leslie said he hadn't agreed to a knife fight and fortunately the fight never took place. But I was impressed at Leslie's bravery.
I never was close to Leslie as a long-term friend. But I still frequently recall those incidents which shaped our lives and what a very nice person Leslie was to me and to all at Mirror Lake Jr High and at SPHS as far as I knew.
Michael D. Hicks
PS I hadn't realized that Leslie's Birthday was on November 28, 1950. MIne is November 29, 1949. He probably beat me at pushups because he was younger! ha ha
Fred Feld
Leslie was not only on the swim team at SPHS, but he competed up to and including the State level. His house was one of the few that I knew at the time that had it's own swimming pool, so the entire family was into swimming competitions. I think the pool and house are still there, at the corner of 7th Avenue North & 29 Street. I believe he placed even at the state level, he was that good. And, yes, he was one of the nicest people I have ever known.
Michael Cassaras
Les was a wonderful friend in school. We used to play football in the empty lot next to his house. He was an amazing swimmer and all around nice guy.