Requiem for an American Hero
Occasionally, we cross paths with people who have truly made a difference.
While you may never have heard of him, I wanted to pay tribute in this space of the Tallassee Tribune to this unique man who was remembered and buried on Veterans Day 2009.
I first met Mr. Leak’s daughter, Liberty, while in junior high school. A friend was dating her at the time and made an early mention about her State Trooper father.
As the years went by, through high school and college, and even into adulthood, I knew several young men who courted the beautiful Liberty. I even witnessed a few intimidating occasions in the front yard of the Leak Estate on Edinburgh Drive in Montgomery, where a fellow might find an officer in uniform, sitting in a trooper car, with a lit cigar (and a loaded weapon).
Liberty was our fraternity’s sweetheart for three years of college at Troy. We have stayed in touch through our careers in K-12 education, and she is now a schoolteacher in Newnan, Georgia.
Liberty’s brother, Justice, has a blossoming film and television career, appearing on series TV as well as in films with thespians such as Denzel Washington and Matthew McConaughey. Justice currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
On Father’s Day, 2008, I had the opportunity to interview Trooper Leak on a radio talk show I hosted in Montgomery. With him were his pride and joy, his son and daughter.
While he spoke fearlessly about his tours of duty in Vietnam, his law enforcement career as an officer in the Montgomery Police Department and as a 25-year State Trooper, hostage negotiator and security company owner, his most profound words were saved for when he spoke of the love he had for his children.
He was moved to tears on several occasions that day just because he was reveling in their presence. That is the mark of the ultimate “proud daddy”.
What has been strange over the past few days is to recall how many times I had the chance to meet him, through Liberty but also through Justice. And every time, Mr. Leak was more than willing to share stories about subjects such as politics and religion, but mostly about America’s role in the world. I learned a lot from him.
At the visitation, high school and college friends filed by the casket. While some reached out in prayer, I felt the best gesture was a salute.
His loving wife, Doris, sat proudly in the front row of the funeral at Grace Pointe Church of Christ, while the casket draped in the American flag made its way forward. In a lighthearted touch that best describes the sense of humor of this proud veteran, the lights of the church were dimmed and a spotlight shone on the coffin as Richard Strauss’ “Also Sprach Zarathustra” --- better known as the theme for 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY --- played over the p.a. system.
Blue lights flashed, sirens blared, and then what sounded like the voice of God introduced a video telling the story of George’s life.
The voice of God in this case was played by Montgomery’s legendary disc jockey, Larry Stevens. This was a memorial service not soon to be forgotten, and deservingly so.
People are always looking for heroes, trying to create action figures or turn shallow celebrities into somebody worth looking up to. I was proud to celebrate a man whose service to God, family, and country knew no bounds, and who is now on patrol in his new assignment.
- Michael Bird
Tallassee Tribune - November 19, 2009
