Leland Eugene Wehde

Leland (Lee) Eugene Wehde was born in Cedar Valley, Iowa on June 8, 1937 to Louis and Meta Jurgens Wehde. He died March 3, 2024 at the age of 86, in Houston, TX. He grew up on a farm in Iowa, was an active FFA member, and graduated from West Liberty High School in 1955. After high school he followed his sister Lois, to Lubbock, TX and began working at L&H Drug for Dr. Royce Lewis and his brother-in-law John Hays.

He attended West Texas State College (now West Texas A&M) in Canyon, TX, and Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech) in Lubbock, TX. With one year left before earning his Mechanical Engineering Degree, he withdrew from Texas Tech, and attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University School of Pharmacy in Weatherford, OK. He was a member of Kappa Psi Fraternity and in 1965, graduated with his Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy. After graduation, he returned to Lubbock, beginning his professional career as a Pharmacist and worked for Lonnie Hollingsworth, owner of L&H Drug. He eventually entered into partnership with Lonnie, and managed the Golden Horseshoe drug store on University Avenue. Years later, he returned to Southwestern Oklahoma State University as a Professor of Gerontology at the School of Pharmacy. He eventually moved back to Lubbock and became Director of Pharmacy for United Supermarkets. After retirement from United, he worked as a pharmacist for the Lubbock State School.

Throughout his career, he was active in the Lubbock Area Pharmacy Association (LAPA), West Texas Pharmacy Association (WTPA), Texas Pharmacy Association, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, and Texas Federation of Drug Stores. He served as president of WTPA and LAPA, and was a recipient of the WTPA’s Heritage Award.

In 2005 an endowed scholarship was established by donations from United Supermarkets and their employees, at WTPA. This scholarship was one of the first endowed scholarships established at WTPA. In 2010, he created another endowed scholarship with his own funds. Each year WTPA awards two scholarships in his honor.

He dedicated much of his life to the pharmacy profession and was proud to be part of the effort to establish a School of Pharmacy at Texas Tech. In his time off, he enjoyed John Wayne movies and collecting guns. He was very proud of his gun collection and was a proud lifetime member of the NRA.

He is survived by his brother Andrew Wehde and his wife Judy, of Little Rock, AR; children Jamie Doherty of San Antonio, TX; Nancie Herring and husband Jody of Missouri City, TX; Courtney Wehde of Lubbock, TX; Jeanne Wehde and husband Jay Dial of Austin, TX; Wesley Wehde and partner Craig Land of Johnson City, TN; four granddaughters, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother Meta Jurgens Popp, father Louis Wehde, step-father Gilbert (Gib) Popp, sister Lois Hays, sister Duggie Pursley, and niece Roxie Haley.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to one of the following:

Texas Tech School of Pharmacy in Amarillo https://connect.ttuhscalumni.org/SOPFFE

West Texas Pharmacy Association https://www.westtexaspharmacy.org/donate-to-scholarship-fund