Homer Leroy Pritchard

Homer Leroy Pritchard, 85, passed away on Friday, November 17, 2023, at his home in Emporia, Kansas surrounded by his family.

Leroy was born on February 4, 1938, on the family farm southwest of Dunlap to Wilbur and Mabel (Baker) Pritchard.  He helped with the farm operation growing up and was a member of the Neosho Valley 4-H Club.  Leroy attended Dunlap schools and was active in high school athletics where he lettered in both baseball and basketball.  He graduated from Dunlap Rural High School in 1956.  Leroy attended Kansas State University while also working part-time in the Agronomy Department.  He was a member of KSU’s first soils judging team in 1958.  Leroy and his wife, Mary Louise (Hodson), were married on June 7, 1959, at the Burdick United Methodist Church while both were students at KSU.  He graduated from KSU in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Technical Agronomy and Soils.  He completed a Master of Science degree in Business from Emporia State University in 1975 and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from KSU in 1993.  Leroy also served at ESU as an adjunct professor in the biology department where he helped teach soil science.  He was a certified professional agronomist and a soils specialist.

He completed the ROTC program while at KSU and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army upon graduation.  Leroy entered military service at Ft. Bliss, TX in 1961 and was assigned to Ft. Leonard Wood, MO where he served as executive officer with the replacement company.  He later was assigned as the assistant tactical director with the 5th Missile Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery at the Olathe Naval Air Station during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  Following his discharge from the Army, Leroy joined the Kansas Army National Guard and while serving as the detachment commander with the 891st Combat Engineer unit at Abilene, he and his unit assisted with the funeral ceremonies for President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1969.  He graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth in 1981 and later served as an adjunct professor with the military institution.  Leroy retired from the U.S. Army Reserve in 1989 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Engineer Branch.  He was the recipient of many military awards including two awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and others.

Leroy worked for the USDA Soil Conservation Service in Council Grove, Clay Center, Concordia, and Salina.  He was promoted to District Conservationist and assigned to Emporia in 1970.  He received several awards and honors for his SCS leadership, and in 1989 he was promoted to Super District Conservationist, one of only five in Kansas at the time.  Leroy later worked in Hays and Manhattan SCS offices before retiring in 1993.  Ater retiring, he began Pritchard Consulting where he worked as a natural resources consultant helping to plan and design flood control dams, feedlots, and wetland projects.

He was active in the communities where he lived and received the Concordia Jaycees Young Man of the Year Award in 1965.  Leroy was involved in the Concordia and Emporia Kiwanis Clubs and served as president of the Emporia High Noon Kiwanis Club in 1975.  He was also a past member of the American Legion.

Leroy had a strong interest in his Welsh family heritage.  He researched the family history in Wales and upon their arrival in America in 1684.  Leroy was also very interested in the history of the Kaw Indians that lived on the reservation near Dunlap, a part of which was located on the family’s farm.

He loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and sought to serve Him at every opportunity.  Leroy and Mary Louise began working with the Southern Baptist Society and accepted several short-term assignments with the SBS to Jordan during the 1990s.  They worked with the Jordanian Government and local residents on a variety of water and sanitation projects, including the reconstruction of 6th Century Roman irrigation canals.  Leroy was an active member of the Countryside Baptist Church in Americus where he served the church as deacon, moderator and treasurer while providing encouragement to members and leaders in the congregation and helping with various outreach programs.

Leroy is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary Louise of Emporia; twin sons Jim (Melanie) of Reading, and John of Abilene; daughter, Deann (Aly) Gadalla of Wichita; grandchildren Ashley (Michael) Richardson, Amanda Pritchard, Auralee Pritchard, Aurora Pritchard, and Joseph Gadalla; great-granddaughters, Alina Martinez-Pritchard, Serinity Ochoa, Rayna Ochoa and Layla Richardson; sister, Naomi Wingert of Emporia.  He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Wilma Finney.

Cremation is planned with a Memorial Service at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 25, 2023, at Countryside Baptist Church in Americus, officiated by Rev. Rich Arnold.  Burial with military honors by Ball-McColm Post #5 American Legion and Lowry-Funston Post 1980 Veterans of Foreign Wars will take place at the Dunlap Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Countryside Baptist Church and the Americus Food Pantry and sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, P.O. Box 175, Emporia, Kansas 66801.