James Leland Langston

Leland was born July 26, 1942, to Paul Thompson and Vernie Dell (Bridges) Langston in Atlanta, Texas. A graduate of Liberty-Eylau High School, Texarkana, Texas, Leland received his Bachelor of Engineering Degree from Southern Methodist University in 1966.

As a professional engineer, Leland specialized in advanced communications and storage systems at Texas Instruments and Raytheon, where he helped design and develop digital signal processing systems, such as the TMS320 family of DSP chips, and advanced technologies used in commercial data communication systems. During his career, Leland was fortunate to work under contract on NASA’s Mariner, Viking, and Voyager programs, including as lead engineer and project lead for the Data Storage System of the Viking and Voyager spacecraft. He also served as Senior Engineer for the Ground Communications System for the Apollo lunar landing project. Leland was a member of several professional societies, including the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the National Society of Professional Engineers, as well as serving on the IEEE 802.16 Broadband Wireless Access Standards Working Group. Leland held patents in the field, published classified papers on communications, and received several honors and awards, including a NASA Public Service Award Medal for his work on the Voyager deep space mission.

Leland was always interested in encouraging young people to believe in themselves, set goals and strive to reach further. While living in Colorado Springs, Leland and Alice sponsored many Air Force Cadets, some of whom became life-long friends. Leland worked with young people through Junior Achievement and was proud of his group and their achievements.

Leland always loved his family and was available to help them in any way he could. Many nieces/nephews, great-nieces/nephews, cadets and other young people have expressed how his attentiveness in conversations and suggestions caused them to follow a path they may not have pushed for had he not encouraged them.

Leland had many personal interests and hobbies. He obtained a private pilot instrument rating and enjoyed flying his single-engine plane. He enjoyed scuba diving, snow skiing, and travel, and was an avid amateur astronomer, short-wave radio operator, and general science enthusiast. After retirement, he took up woodworking as a more relaxing hobby. Leland especially enjoyed spending time with his grandson, Soren.

Leland was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Mary Jo (Langston) Cook of Texarkana, Texas, and his grandson Ezekiel (Zeke) Leland Langston, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Alice Langston; his son and daughter-in-law, Brent Leland and Alian Marie Langston; his grandson, Soren Leland Langston, all of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; his brother and sister-in-law, Thomas and Debbie Langston of Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, sister and brother-in-law, Martha and Tommy Payne of Mena, Arkansas; his brother-in-law, Philip Evans of Odessa, Texas; nieces and nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews.

A Private Interment will be at January 22, 2024, at Olinger Chapel Hill Cemetery with Pastor Bob Hayes officiating. A Memorial Service with be at 2:00 PM, January 22, 2024, at Olinger Funeral Home, Centennial.

Family visitation will follow the Memorial Service.