Tom Leathers

I lived in the Kansas City area from '82 - '91 and knew Tom from my work in local radio during that time. In the years since, I haven't kept up with KC goings-on and I am only now learning of Tom's passing. Picking up a copy of Tom's newspaper was a weekly treat and a nice alternative to The Star. He was one-of-a-kind!

My family knew Tom and his family for two generations. They shopped at our grocery store in Leawood KS for years and years. I sacked and carried out hundreds of orders for them. Tom even wrote a feature article when Dad sold the store in 1980.
Fairwell old friend - you, too, will be missed.

Dan

My sincere condolences to Tom's family. I met him only once -- this summer -- and he never let on that he was ill. I was bowled over by his irrepressible enthusiasm for life, his newspapers, and politics. What a terrific man he was! We are proud to count him as an alumnus of K-State!
Llewellyn Crain
Kansas State University, College of Arts and Sciences

Though I have not lived in Johnson County for nearly 12 years, I will always remember Tom as a truly independent journalist who always called them as he saw them and always had an affinity for the underdog. Tom never feared the powerful folk. He treated everyone the same. My vision of Tom will always remain with him firmly planted in his booth at Pumpernick's, drinking his 10th cup of coffee, armed with pen and legal pad, hammering out his latest epistle. Knowing Tom, I'm sure he's about to...

Tom was such a tireless, humorous and wonderful person. Really quite an entrepreneur in a difficult profession.
We became good friends in the mid-1980's through various Johnson County activities. I don't think we ever disagreed, which means I must have been right all of the time!
It should be noted that he was a pivotal organizer of the Leawood Chamber of Commerce and an enthusiastic supporter of its activities.
He was a great Johnson County historian, and knew so much about...

Leather's Family = the community will miss Tom so much. He was instrumental in our family joining Asbury UMC in l955 because of their sports program! Tom and Dan played on several teams & coached youth basketball. Maybe they are both continueing their sports interest along with our son Del. We enjoyed his articles and honesty in the Squire publications. He wrote with integrity. I still remember all of us playing pingpong at our house when he told us he was starting his own newspaper. ...

Tom,
Thanks for all of the great Publishing classes that you taught for me while I was in Leawood. I was very excited to work with you again in Shawnee. I will see you again. You will be greatly missed...Thank you.