Leroy C. Tombs Sr.

Leroy C. Tombs, Sr. (85) passed away quietly at his home in Bonner Springs, Kansas after a lengthy illness Wednesday, May 10, 2006. Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 17th, 2006 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 5501 Monticello Rd., in Shawnee, KS. The Family will receive friends at the visitation Tuesday evening, from 5 to 7 p.m., May 16th which will be followed by a wake service at 7 p.m. both at the church. Mr. Tombs' diverse and expansive accomplishments encompassed military, business, political and civic achievements. Mr. Tombs was honored by his native community, Bonner Springs, Kansas in 1999 when the city proclaimed the day in his honor and renamed N. Neconi Avenue in his name. This honor was the result of a life that was built upon the Christian family principles to which based his life. Achievements include a stellar 23-year naval career. He retired as Chief Petty Officer in 1963. Mr. Tombs enjoyed over 20 years of successful business ownership which included ownership of Tombs & Sons, inc., Tombs Janitorial, and a Crown Lincoln Mercury Ford Dealership. He was often lauded as one of the 100 most respected Black Businessmen in America and was recognized as the U.S. Small Businessman of the year in 1974. Mr. Tombs was the Founder of the National Black Republican Party and served as the Vice President of the National Coalition of Minority Enterprise. He was a member of the National Advisory Council on Economic Opportunity under Presidents Ford and Carter and was advisor to Ronald Reagan on Small Business. The Kansas State Senate issued a proclamation in 2002 in recognition of his successful career in the fields of business and public service and he was honored by the Kansas Black Chamber of Commerce this year for tireless dedication towards promoting minority business. He and the late Norman Hodges cofounded Twenty Good Men, a volunteer organization and received the President's Action Award for their efforts. He was a Lifetime and Heritage member of the NAACP, and served on the Urban League and SCLC national Boards of Directors. He was most recently inducted into the Bonner Springs High School Hall of Fame. Mr. Tombs became a highly sought after business consultant upon his retirement from Tombs & Sons in 1984, and was regarded as one of the nation's most loved, respected and unselfish business, political and civic advisors. With all of his achievements Mr. Tombs regarded being a single parent and raising his five children his greatest success and achievement. He was preceded in death by his parents Mattie Martha and Harrison Sherman Toombs, Sr. and one brother Harrison Sherman Toombs, Jr. He is survived by his five children – Darlene Collier, Wanda Ford (Edward), Leroy Tombs, Jr. (Irene), Madlyn Tombs, Phillip Tombs, thirteen grandchildren – Justin Collier (Ivy), Adrianne Ford, Victoria Smith (Kevin), Edward Ford, II (Yolanda), Dana Tombs, Madlyn Tombs, Jennifer Doering (Jeff), Jennifer Leigh Tombs, Tracy Herring, Tyrone Anderson (Ayanna), Annessia Cyrus, Phillip Tombs, Jr., ReA Tombs; six great-grand children Deon Whitten, Danae Smith, Regan Smith, Nicholas Tombs-Wilburn, Elijah Tombs-Belle, Veronica Doering; Mariah Cyrus, Amante Tombs, and Aleria Tombs; three brothers – Norman Tombs (Patty), James Toombs and Virgil Toombs (Mary); special friend Joanne O'Brien and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and business associates. (Arrangements Alden – Harrington Funeral Home, Bonner Springs, KS 913422-4074)