IN MEMORIAM

James J. Meeker, Founding Trustee

The story of Fort Worth Country Day is an inspiring one: In 1962, a group of committed parents and community leaders came together with a vision to create a premier, independent school in Fort Worth that would ensure their children had every opportunity to succeed in school, college and life. Trailblazer James J. Meeker passed away at his home in New Mexico on January 24, 2021.

James J. Meeker passed away at his home in New Mexico on January 24, 2021.

James was one of 16 Founding Trustees and served as Board Secretary. Together, this group saw a compelling need for a private school that could foster students’ intellectual, physical, emotional and ethical development in a college-preparatory setting. Quite simply, they wanted to prepare their children to be the future leaders of the community.

The School is grateful to James and his fellow Founding Trustees for their vision, dedication and energies, which resulted in the establishment of our exceptional school. His legacy lives on through the generations of FWCD students and alumni who have and will become community volunteers and civic and business leaders in Fort Worth, the state of Texas, and the nation.

O.P. “Paul” Leonard, Jr. H’13, Founding Trustee

One of Fort Worth Country Day’s Founding Trustees, O.P. “Paul” Leonard, Jr., passed away on May 21, having recently celebrated his 95th birthday with his wife of 73 years, Nancy. During the School’s 50th anniversary celebratory year, Mr. Leonard was given the Honorary Alumnus Award, the Alumni Association’s highest honor, and became a member of the Class of 2013.

O.P. “Paul” Leonard, Jr., passed away on May 21.

Paul had a large and loving family, who are deeply rooted in Fort Worth and Fort Worth Country Day’s history. Falcon family members include Daniel Leonard ’70, David Leonard ’71, Louise Leonard Keffler ’72, and Laura Leonard Hallum ’84 (four of Paul and Nancy’s five children); Martha Oswald Motheral ’99, Adelaide Hallum Church ’08, Raleigh Hallum ’10 and Obie Hallum ’13 (grandchildren); and Margery Motheral ’33 (great-granddaughter). Paul also forged significant, meaningful friendships over the years: Those who knew him said he never met a stranger.

A pillar of the community, Paul was entrepreneurial like his father, Obadiah Paul Leonard, who co-owned Leonard’s Department Store (1920-70) and more retail spaces, spanning six city blocks, in Fort Worth. A commitment to innovation and excellence was a mainstay for Paul. Luckily, that commitment extended to helping establish FWCD. On November 20, 1961, Paul was one of 25 Fort Worthians present to hear Alan Lake Chidsey speak. Chidsey was Founding Headmaster at St. John’s School in Houston and, at the time, one of the best-known figures in private school education in America. Chidsey had been invited to share his perspective on independent schools, including how to establish such a school in Fort Worth. Months later, a Board of Trustees for Fort Worth Country Day was formed. Paul served on that Founding Board from 1962-65 and was Vice President in 1963-64.

Fort Worth Country Day would not be the exceptional school it is without Mr. Leonard’s vision as one of 16 Founding Trustees.

IN MEMORIAM

Joseph Earl Breedlove, Sr.

Robert Sherman Capper, MD

Edward Randall Hudson, Jr.

Taylor Dickson Jennings Irvin ’06

Vance Lambert ’79

O.P. “Paul” Leonard, Jr. H’13

James J. Meeker

J. Mark Palmer, MD

Jeremey Puls ’05

William Reynolds ’04

Edmund W. Schenecker ’79

Kay Stansbery

Evelyn Walraven

Charles Watts, Sr.

Patricia Burr Zeigler