W. Leon Matthews

W. LEON MATTHEWS passed away on Feb. 19, 2016 with family by his side. Leon was born on March 9, 1937 in Nashville, Tenn. He grew up at the Boys Club in Nashville, Tenn. spending most of his free time there. Leon was an athlete. He lettered in football, basketball, and baseball in high school and during his senior year of high school the Chicago White Sox recruited him to play professionally. Leon played catcher and his younger brother played pitcher. They did not lose a game for 4 years while playing together. At the urging of the Boys Club director, he accepted a baseball scholarship to the University of Tennessee instead. At the end of his junior year of college Leon could not wait any longer and signed with the Cardinal organization and played in their AAA organization in the international league. His career lasted two and a half years until he tore the rotator cuff in his throwing arm and was released. After finishing his senior year at the University of Tennessee he went back to Nashville to become the Executive Director of the Boys Club where he had grown up. During high school, college, and the first few years at the Boys Club, he served 12 years in the US Naval Reserve. His job was to man the submarines. In 1963 after several years at the Boys Club he joined the American National Red Cross as their Safety Programs Director for the state of Georgia, and all military installations in the Southeast U.S. In 1968 Leon moved from being the District Representative in Georgia to the Assistant Director of Fundraising for the southeastern area and served as Assistant Manager for 49 counties in South Florida. While in Florida, in 1972 Leon joined the United Way of Dade County in Miami. He served in several senior management positions and while he was there got his MBA from the University of Miami Florida. In 1977 Leon moved to Little Rock, Ark. to become the CEO of the United Way of Pulaski County where he served for 20 years. In 1996, he was named the first recipient of the Arkansas Business Non-profit Business Executive of the year. Leon has been extremely active in the community. His career has been about helping others. Boards that he has served include: New Futures for Youth, Arkansas Diversion of Volunteerism, The Blue Ridge Institute, Rotary Club of Arkansas, CARTI, Inc., The United Way of America Retirees Association, Little Rock Sister Cities Commission, Little Rock Air Force Base Community Council, and Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services. Community Services he served include: the Governor's Task Force on Welfare Reform as Chairman, Governor's Task Force on Adult Literacy as Co-Chair, the Future of Little Rock Steering Committee, the Executive Committee for Arkansas Promise, the Founding Committee of Our Town, and the National Committee on Planned Giving. Leon was a Paul Harris fellow of the Rotary Club. Leon was a remarkable and driven man in all facets of life. In 1959 he had a 20 second part in the movie "Operation Petticoat" shooting down the Japanese from an aircraft carrier. In 1978 he decided to become a runner. He ran the first of his five marathons at the age of 56 and the last at 63. Leon is preceded in death by his loving wife, Lynne Hartman Matthews. He is survived by: his siblings Lola Nolen and Kenneth Matthews, both of Nashville, Tenn., DeLores Williams, mother of his daughter, of Little Rock, Britt Matthews, daughter, and Day Brannen Matthews, granddaughter, the light of his life, both of Little Rock, Ark. The family would like to express thanks to the caring staff of Clarity Pointe, Hospice Home Care of Little Rock, and friends at PHUMC. Gratitude is given to the Paramedics, EMT's, staff and friends at MEMS for their excellent care. Your presence is welcomed to honor Leon Matthews life. Services will be held at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church at 4823 Woodlawn Drive, Little Rock, Ark., on Wednesday, Feb. 24. 2016 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Leon's name to the United Way of Pulaski County.