Wyllis Leon Reese

Wyllis Leon Reese of Abilene passed away Thursday, June 28, 2012 at Wisteria Place, he was 92. A service is scheduled for 1:30pm on Monday, July 2, 2012 at University Church of Christ with a burial to follow at Elmwood Memorial Park under the direction of Piersall Funeral directors, 733 Butternut Street. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 3-5pm on Sunday afternoon.

Leon was born on December 19, 1919 in Mineral Wells, Texas to J.C. and Nellie Reese. He grew up attending schools in Abilene, Texas where he graduated from Abilene High School in 1937. After high school he attended Abilene Christian College where he was vice president of the student body, a 4 year letterman in basketball and a 3 year letterman in tennis. He was All Texas Conference in basketball, pioneered the one-handed jump shot, and was inducted into the ACU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996. It was at ACU that Leon met the love of his life, Iris Muns. They married on June 7, 1941. Iris preceded him in death on October 29, 2011.

Leon was an officer in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He attended Officer Candidate School in Miami, along with fellow officer Clark Gable, and then went to Finance School at Duke University. From there he was sent to India with the First Air Commando Group as a Finance Officer where he served until the war ended. He was recalled to service during the Korean conflict.

Not long after World War II, Leon and Iris moved back to Abilene where they raised three sons, served the community, and were faithful members of the University Church of Christ. Leon served the church as an elder for more than 40 years, encouraging and loving the congregation, and teaching and mentoring high school students. During his late 30s and early 40s he worked on and completed a masters degree in Bible from ACU simply because he loved the Bible and wanted to be a good elder and Christian.

Leon worked in the oil industry for most of his life, serving as a wholesale agent for several major oil companies. He was known by everyone as both highly competent and scrupulously honest. He was the charter president of the Key City Kiwanis Club and the Abilene Golden K Kiwanis Club and worked tirelessly to make Abilene a better community.

For more than 40 years Leon was an announcer for ACU athletic events. He began announcing track and field meets beginning in the Bobby Morrow era in the early 1950s. He was the announcer for the U.S. Women’s Olympic Trials held at ACU in 1960 and announced football and basketball games during the 60s and 70s for the Wildcats. He was also a charter member and served 36 years on the Advisory Board at ACU.

Surviving Leon are his three sons: Randy Reese and wife Donna, Jack Reese and wife Jeanene, and Jim Reese and wife Jody. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Barry (Molly) Reese, Kedra (Alan) Brown , Derran (Ann) Reese, Jessica (Jonathan) Goudeau, Jocelyn (Mark) Wiebe, Jay Reese, Justin (Hollie) Reese, Jenna (Matt) Cope, and Jordan (Clark) Harrell. He is also survived by 17 great-grandchildren and a brother-in-law James (Betty) Muns. Preceding Leon in death were his wife Iris, his brother Jerome, and his sisters Ruth Holden and Helen Rea.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Leon and Iris Reese endowed scholarship fund at Abilene Christian University, ACU Box 29130, 79699. Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.