O. Leroy Elmore

O. Leroy Elmore A man whose life was as full and whose heart was as wide as Texas itself, and whose humble beginnings led to a life lived out in giving to others, passed away on January 18, 2004. Leroy Elmore (Papa) was born on December 19, 1916 in Mountain Air, New Mexico and was raised in Dickins County, Texas. After graduating high school, he left and headed out to California. He soon returned to save the family farm. Unbeknownst to him at the time, it was the beginning of his real estate adventure. In 1939 he met his life partner, Dortha Merriman (Dottie) - she was a beautiful, dark haired rancher’s daughter from Spur, Texas. They soon wed, and a year later had their only child, Lynda Royce Elmore. Papa recognized early on in life that The Lord had provided him with a plan and a brain and he was going to use it. At first, driving a Texaco gas delivery truck and then, during WWII driving troops across country for the Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma Bus Line. He covered enough terrain in Texas to know each wildflower by name. He loved people. He loved meeting, laughing, and doing business with them. He was a real estate genius. It began in the 1940’s, and he was recently recognized as having one of the first real estate licenses in the state of Texas. Over the years, he developed very diverse and successful businesses. He represented the Santa Fe Railroad. He was on the original Lubbock Airport Board and on the board of director of the Great Plains Life Insurance Company. In 1953, he began his radio business with partner Dave Pinkston, KDAV in Lubbock. It became the first all time country radio station in the country. He then co-owned stations in San Angelo, Amarillo, and Colorado Springs. This venture brought about friendships with the likes of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, June Carter, Loretta Lyn, and Ray Charles to name a few. In 1978, he and Dottie moved from Lubbock to Dallas, where he continued to sell land all over Texas. His expertise in real estate brought him to the attention of other real estate entrepreneurs such as Howard Hughes, Trammel Crow, and Jerry Ford. He also partnered with Pat Merriman as the owners and operators of the H&R Block franchise for Texas. In 1993, the Elmores moved to Austin to be near their daughter Lynda, her children, and their great grandchildren. Leroy never met a stranger. You felt as if you’d known him a lifetime after just meeting him. His heart was pure, true, and good. A handshake was all it took. He was a great storyteller. His life was a celebration. His family was his first priority in life. He was our biggest cheerleader and supporter during hard times. He would pick us up, dust us off, and tell us to try again. His greatest love was his Dottie. She was the wind beneath his wings, his strength, and his biggest fan. He never liked to say good-bye. He would say, as you pulled out of the driveway or hung up the phone, “Be sweet and don’t forget who loves you!” Papa, we never did forget, nor will we ever. He is survived by his precious wife of 64 years, Dottie Elmore; daughter Lynda Menn and husband Arnold ; grandchildren Lisa Bradley, Kristi Vaught and husband Mark, and Bret Burford and wife Electra; great grandchildren Houston Bradley, Valerie Vaught, Bradley Vaught, and Cole Burford. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in his memory to a charity of your choice. Services will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2004, at 3:00 p.m., at Tarrytown United Methodist Church, Austin, Texas. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2004, at 1:00 p.m., at Greenwood Memorial Park, Fort Worth, Texas. Serving as pallbearers will be John Harris, Glen Beaver, Dennis Holt, Norton Baker, Bret Burford, Jimmy Gresset, Terry Blankenship and Kip Kronenburg. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78705 (512) 452-8811. You may view memorials online at www.wcfish.com