LeRoy Johnson Jr.

I love Leroy. I met him in Oregon in the late 1960's through visiting his store. He took me under his wing and was very kind to me. I'm so happy to be able to say thank you to him through these comments.
I was a 24 very distraught young woman who'd traveled with my boyfriend fromMass. to Ca, to practice at the San Francisco Zen Center, but got scared and moved to Oregon for 3 years. Turns out Leroy had met Suzuki Roshi , the man who founded that Zen Center, and that Leroy also...

I have one of your books and I love knowing that it was part of your library

So sad to learn of LeRoy's death. He was truly unique. I had not spoken to him since the 1960s when he was still at the University of Oregon in Eugene. We met in Austin where we both worked for the National Park Service under Ed Jelks. We were at the old archaeology lab before they moved it to Balcones. I'm was glad to learn that he had come back to Austin. I think he always felt at home there.

Yes indeed, Lee was certainly one of a kind. I'll always treasure the memories of the many, many visits and long talks over good Assam tea, about ancient Saxons, Russian rifles, Oregon, trains, East Anglia, Neanderthals, sailing ships, and times gone by. Lee was my mentor and friend and can't be replaced.

People might say that after they made Lee they broke the mold, but for those who knew him well we know that the mold was broken beforehand. Happy trails Uncle Lee.

He was such a great friend and unique individual. We always had lively conversations about anything and everything.
Happy Trails, Lee

A runner for the THC
Sent north with goods for good old Lee
He wouldn’t let me out the door
He’d serve me tea and serve me lore
“I’m running late” I’d try to say
“Sit down and drink this Earl Gray
They’ll never know how long you’re here
Quit blathering and take a chair”
And so he’d talk of Mexico, locomotives, and
Bleriot
Eudora Welty, Lubbock farms, friends in Chico,
firearms
The big old clock would tick away
But I’d...