James Jim W. Leathers

James (Jim) Leathers, 91, passed away November 4, 2012, in Shawnee, Kansas. He was born May 4, 1921, in a farmhouse north of El Dorado, Kansas, the first child of Charles and Anna (Cherryholmes) Leathers, joining three previous generations of Leathers who had farmed the flint hills of Butler County. Jim was a lifelong Kansas resident, tied closely to its agriculture. He attended a one-room grade school, El Dorado High School, and Butler County Community Junior College before enrolling at Kansas State College. An agricultural deferment to farm during World War II interrupted his college studies, eventually graduating with a double major in agronomy and economics. Jim married Mildred Calhoon on November 10, 1946. He was the Cooperative Extension Agent for Cowley County until 1951, before moving to the KMBC farm in Stanley, broadcasting daily as part of the radio station’s farm department. Later he continued broadcasting as director of the newly formed Kansas City Livestock Market Foundation, and then as farm director for station WDAF. Jim’s final job was with the animal health division of Chemagro (Bayer) Corporation, from which he retired in 1986. He was active for many years in the national FFA and the American Royal, and was a longtime member of the Overland Park Presbyterian Church. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and sister. He is survived by two married children, Charles (Nancy) Leathers of Pullman, Washington, and Rinda (Craig) Mart of Shawnee. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 10:30a.m., Thursday, November 8, 2012, at the Overland Park Presbyterian Church, 8029 Overland Park Dr., O.P. KS 66204.