Tony Leonard:
CLASS OF 1984
East Rowan High SchoolClass of 1984
Salisbury, NC
Charles C. Erwin Middle SchoolClass of 1981
Salisbury, NC
Granite Quarry Elementary SchoolClass of 1978
Granite quarry, NC
Denton High SchoolClass of 1956
Denton, NC
Rockwell High SchoolClass of 1952
Rockwell, NC
Tony's Story
Life
I am very happy with my life and I have ended up just about where I thought that I would be at this age. I don't drink, smoke or party so my life would be pretty dull to some folks. I have a wonderful wife and son that are both fun loving and they make me feel young and alive. My Faith in Jesus is strong and I feel very blessed to have the things in life that we have. I am a Gideon and I enjoy my involvement in the ministry especially handing out Bibles to Children at the Elementary Schools. I am also involved in my Church as I enjoy serving my Lord. My old iron collecting hobby keeps me busy in the summer months traveling around to the various local shows and going to several out of State shows as well. Back in high school I was a sports car driver (Trans-am) but now I am a 4X4 Diesel pick-up truck man (Chevy of course). I guess the suppressed red-neck inside of me has finally came out.
I wish the folks that handle our class reunions would have a reunion that was more affordable and one that we could bring our families along with us. I invision a big family picnic or a grill-out that the food would be simple and the atmosphere would be calm without the loud music so we could sit and talk to each other in a normal tone. I never was one of the party crowd and I think it is past time for people our age to grow up.
School
I didn't take high school serious enough so there are several things I wish I could go back and change. I wish I would have applied myself more so I could have went on to a major college. Also, I should have been in the jazz or marching band, chorus or even played baseball. I think I hurt some nice people's feelings through the years over various silly issues and I wish I wouldn't have been so cold. I had a part-time job at Swicegood Paper so I could leave school early each day. If I could go back, I wouldn't have worked and I would have enjoyed more school related activities. My favorite teachers were Dan Hoag (if you could call him a teacher), Ms. Bryan (Art), Mr. Roberts (ICT) and Mrs. Barrow (science & computers). Some of my best friends were Rodney Le...Expand for more
onard, David Beck, Brian Kimmer, Mark Martin, Greg Boling, Jeff Hill, Jonathan Brady, Greg Wilhelm, Whitney Stolz, Gary Smith, Sandy Saunders, Paul Lyerly, Steve Lovette (hey hey Boo Boo), Penny Harwood, Mandy Robertson, Star Brady, Andrea Burgess, Donna Martin, Melissa Hoosier, Ada Trexler, Rebecca Carter and Tammy Goodwin.
College
Several years after graduating high school I decided to go to Rowan Tech at night. Automotive mechanics was my pick because of my love for tinkering on muscle cars. But today, I can't seem to find the time or interest to work on my old 1965 SS Chevelle so she just sits in the car port. I do use some of my education in my main hobby which is collecting antique Hit & Miss engines and farm tractors.
Workplace
I Started out part time at Swicegood Paper as a delivery truck driver. In fact, I worked this job my senior year in high school. Then it was off to Lowes as a stock boy while I attended Rowan Tech. I was just thinking how rich I would be today if I would have stayed there. You know, there are several people that I worked with at Lowes that are now retired and they are around my age. I finally got a lead sales promotion and then got a job offer from Lane Punch as a shipping clerk making more money. I decided to leave Lowes and went to work at Lane Punch. I got several promotions while I was there and eventually became the Quality and Shipping/Receiving Manager. After working at Lane Punch for 8 years I decided to work for Matsushita (Panasonic) in Mooresville as a Senior Quality Technician. I was there (8 years) until they closed the plant and moved it to China (lucky me). Then I worked a short time at Multi-Electrical Services in Kannapolis building control panels. Now I am a Metal Alloy Salesman in Salisbury. This is really the best job I have had and it is really rewarding. I think I was born to be a Salesman...its in my blood to wheel and deal. I hope to be a CEO one day so I can treat the folks that do the work like I wish I was treated now. Seems like the folks on top soon forget how life was on the bottom.
Military
No military experience.
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Reunions
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