Eugene Leon McClinton

LEON MCCLINTON, 77, of Little Rock Ark., passed away Aug. 24, 2010 at Arkansas Hospice in Little Rock. He was born Jan. 29, 1933 in Des Moines, Iowa, to John K and Leona Stamp McClinton. He was a lefty professional baseball pitcher in the minor leagues. He was a published author. He was a teacher for over 40 years and high school athletic coach. Leon received an extensive education at several universities culminating with a M.A. of Education at Wisconsin State University. He pitched for minor league baseball teams in Arkansas, Wisconsin, Winnipeg, Manitoba with both the Cleveland Indian and the Saint Louis Cardinal organizations from 1951-1957. In 1953-1955 he served in the U.S. Army, where he served in Korea and Japan. He was a high school English teacher and athletics coach in Osceola, Ark., Winnipeg, Manitoba and Antigo, Wis. He was a published author with his 1974 book "Cross-Country Runner" named "top juvenile book" by Wisconsin Writers Council 1974. Leon was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Lynn R. McClinton, and his first wife Joan Vingers McClinton. He is survived by his wife Sue Vanlandingham-McClinton of Little Rock; three children, Cheryl Racine of Antigo, Wis., Mark McClinton of Wausau, Wis., and Scott McClinton of Sun Prairie, Wis.; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren all of Wisconsin; his sister Joan Skelton of Conway, Ark.; and six nephews and nieces. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday Aug. 30, 2010 at Griffin Leggett Healey and Roth Funeral Home 5800 W 12th St. Little Rock, Ark. Interment will follow at Roselawn Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home Sunday afternoon from 3 until 5. Please sign his online guest book at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.