Wilmore B. Leonard
Wilmore B. Leonard | |
|---|---|
 Wilmore B. Leonard | |
| Birth name | Wilmore B. Leonard |
| Born | Salisbury, Maryland, US |
| Died | Washington, DC |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service | United States Army Air Force |
| Awards | Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen |
Wilmore B. Leonard (19?? – April 2, 1978) was an American college professor, U.S. Army Air Corps/U.S. Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group, a component of the Tuskegee Airmen.[1]
One of 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots, Leonard was a member of Tuskegee's sixth cadet graduating class and one of the first 50 African American combat fighter pilots in history.[2] He served during World War II, retiring from the military in 1946. He subsequently attended the Howard University School of Dentistry, and became a dentistry professor, holding the position for 25 years.
Early life
Leonard was born in Salisbury, Maryland on Maryland's Eastern Shore. He had two siblings, Howard E. Leonard Jr. and Lillian Flamer. In 1939, he graduated from Hampton Institute. He taught at Accomac County High School in Accomac, Virginia on Virginia's Eastern Shore.[3]
Leonard was married to Elizabeth A. Leonard. They had one daughter, Charmaine L. Jackson, and one grandchild.[3]
Military career
On September 6, 1942, Leonard graduated from the Tuskegee Flight School's Single Engine Section Class SE-42-H, earning his wings and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant.[1]
One of 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots, Leonard was a member of Tuskegee's sixth cadet graduating class and one of the first 50 African American combat fighter pilots in history.[2] He was the cadet classmate of Robert W. Deiz, best known as the face of the popular 1943 “Keep Us Flying” World War II War Bonds poster created by Betsy Graves Reyneau, a white artist known for her portraits of prominent African Americans that circulated as part of the Harmon Foundation's traveling exhibition in the 1940s.[4][5]
He served in World War II's European Theater.
In 1946, Leonard left the military with the rank of Captain.[3]
Post-military career and professorship
In 1947, Leonard applied and was provisionally admitted to the University of Maryland's graduate school in the chemistry department. Maryland subsequently rescinded its admissions decision, officially citing dissatisfaction with Leonard's previous average grades, though probably as a result of Leonard's race.[6][7]
In 1948, Leonard attended the Howard University School of Dentistry, graduating in 1952. He worked there as a professor for 25 years until his retirement in May 1976. He served as Howard's associate director of clinics, secretary to the faculty. He taught oral diagnosis, endodontics, oral therapeutics, pharmacology. Howard University School of Dentistry awarded him the Howard University College of Dentistry Alumni Award for outstanding contributions to dental education. Leonard was a member of the American Dental Association, the National Dental Association, the Robert T. Freeman Dental Society and the District of Columbia Dental Society. He was the author of numerous articles on periodontology and endodontics published in professional journals.[3]
Death
Leonard suffered from cancer and died on April 2, 1978 at Howard University Hospital in Washington, DC.[3]
See also
- Executive Order 9981
- List of Tuskegee Airmen
- List of Tuskegee Airmen Cadet Pilot Graduation Classes
- Military history of African Americans
References
- ^ a b CAF Rise Above. "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster." https://cafriseabove.org/the-tuskegee-airmen/tuskegee-airmen-pilot-roster/ . This data derives from CAF Rise Above's research project compiling data from Tuskegee Airmen historians including the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- ^ a b "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster". CAF Rise Above. CAF Rise Above. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "W. B. Leonard, Dentist-Professor, Dies". The Washington Post (local ed.). April 5, 1978. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ CAF Rise Above. "Robert W. Deiz." https://cafriseabove.org/robert-w-deiz/
- ^ Rediscovering Black History. "Who Is He? A Long-Delayed Search for the Identity of the Airman Portrayed in a World War II Poster." Tligon. November 11, 2019. https://rediscovering-black-history.blogs.archives.gov/2019/11/11/who-is-he-a-long-delayed-search-for-the-identity-of-the-airman-portrayed-in-a-world-war-ii-poster/
- ^ "School Bias Dodge Succeeds: Maryland U. Escapes Law By 'Grade' Ruse". The Chicago Defender (national ed.). September 27, 1947. p. 4.
- ^ Dula, Traci Leigh Moody (2016). "PROSPERING BECAUSE THAT’S ITS HISTORY": BLACK RESILIENCE AND HONORS DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION: MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE STATE OF MARYLAND, 1867-1988 (PDF) (PhD thesis). University of Maryland. pp. 50, 105.
