Passing of Missouri Wing Member, Former Cadet
In Memoriam: Lt. Col. Edward Leonard
“A man’s life cannot be measured by his accomplishments alone, but rather by his outreach to others, and his ability to help them excel.” — Lt. Col. Ed Leonard
Lt. Colonel Ed Leonard, a former CAP cadet and long-serving member of Missouri Wing, passed away on March 26, 2026, at the age of 85.
As a CAP cadet in the 1950s, Lt. Col. Leonard completed the cadet program and was awarded CAP's highest cadet award at the time -- the Certificate of Proficiency -- forerunner of today's CAP Spaatz Award.
An active CAP leader, Lt. Col. Leonard served in multiple staff positions in the Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron as well as several wing-level positions of responsibility including that of Group V Commander. Additionally, he served frequently as staff for CAP's National Blue Beret supporting the annual EAA AirVenture event in Oshkosh, WI -- a CAP National Cadet Special Activity.
Lt. Col. Leonard served in the United States Air Force from 1958 to 1966 as a Russian linguist, with assignments in Berlin and Misawa, Japan, during a critical period in global history. During his service, he trained at the U.S. Army Language School and studied Russian at Syracuse University.
Following his military service, Lt. Col. Leonard held a long career with the United States Postal Service, where he worked from 1966 to 1995. Over nearly three decades, he held a range of leadership roles, including Supervisor of Mail, Manager of Distribution Operations, and Labor Relations Officer.
A celebration of Lt. Col. Leonard's life and service was held on May 16, 2026, at the Terminal Building of the Graham Clark Downtown Airport in Hollister, MO, with members of CAP in attendance including the Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron color guard.
