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In Memory of Walter A. Leigon
By Lena Mae Leigon
Walter A. (Walt) Leigon was born 27 November 1918, at Morgan, Bosque County, Texas. He was the sixth of ten children born to Samuel Lindsay (Pat) Leigon and wife, Minnie May Newton Leigon. He served his country in the U. S. Army Infantry during World War 11. He had joined the Texas National Guard and they were mobilized with the 36th. Infantry Division, October 1940. He attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, the summer of 1942, and after graduating from there in August of that year, he joined the 104th. Infantry Division. He saw military action with the 104th. Infantry Division in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Silver Star, Bronze Star with cluster, EAME Campaign with 3 citation stars, Presidential Unit Citation (Germany), American Campaign, American Defense, Army of Occupation (Germany) and Victory medals. He retired from the army in 1945 at the end of the war with the rank of Captain.
Walter married Lena Mae Windham, daughter of William Willis Windham and wife, Lena Caroline Parks Windham, at Clifton, Bosque County, Texas, 19 March 1943. At the end of the war, Walter and Lena Mae moved to Austin, Texas, where he resumed his education. He graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 1948, with a BBA degree. He received his MBA degree from The University of Houston at Houston, Texas, in 1954, and his Certified Public Accountant Certificate in 1955.
Walter worked for Exxon Company, USA (formerly Humble Oil & Refining Company) for thirty years. He worked nine months at Kingsville, Texas, three months at Corpus Christi, Texas, and two and one-half years at Falfurrias, Texas. The remaining time was spent at the Houston, Texas, office. He retired from Exxon Co., USA as an Administrative Coordinator/Manager in 1978. He also taught Accounting at The University of Houston for one semester in 1956.
Walter was an active member of Bellaire United Methodist Church for over fifty years, where he served as Lay Leader, Usher and Greeter. He served on the Official Board of the Church, Chairman of the Finance Committee, Chairman of the Commission on Education and Chairman of The School For Little Children. He also enjoyed working with youth and senior citizens. He served as Cub Scoutmaster, Coach for Little League Baseball and he did volunteer income tax work for Senior Citizens for several years. Walter has biographies in Who's Who in the South and Southwest 1963-64, Who's Who in Texas 1973-74 and Personalities of the South 1974. He was the author of a chapter titled "Special Features of Petroleum Accounting" in the book, Economics of the Mineral Industries, which was published 1964 by The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. Walter was a member of the Newton County, Mississippi, Historical and Genealogical Society.
Walter died at a Houston hospital 29 June 2002, at the age of 83. He is buried at Memorial Oaks Cemetery, Houston, Harris County, Texas. He is survived by his wife of 59 years and two sons: Larry Alan Leigon of Novato, California, and William Lindsay Leigon and wife, Denae Kimball Leigon of Napa, California. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Kristan Denae Leigon, Sarah Ashley Leigon, Justin Lindsay Leigon and Christopher Glenn Brannigan Leigon. He is also survived by two sisters, Willie May Leigon Taylor of Midland, Texas, and Helen Leigon Parker of Jacksonville, Florida.
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