When I was little, my Dad was the most inspiring, most driven, most patriotic, most larger-than-life force that you can possibly imagine. Plus he was funny, and fun AND SO, SO handsome. Dad was definitely a chick magnet. He had charisma to burn.

So of course I miss him. We all loved him. We all miss him.

But I knew him first.  We were very tight, very close and utterly devoted to each other. He made me the success I am today by sheer example and force of Will.  I owe my father everything and will be forever grateful to have known him.

What a man. What a cadet. What a pilot. What a hero. What a great American.  We need many more Lenny, Jrs

As a 19 year old Major Griggs asked me to come work with him at Dak To in Vietnam.  Our friendship grew as I was his principle O-2 Maintenance NCO.  Over the course of 10 months I gained a special respect for him as a leader, boss, and friend.  He instilled confidence in me that I had never known.  After being there only one day he asked me IF I wanted to fly with him on a mission.  I jumped at the chance.  He even taught me how to land the aircraft, "just in case" he said.  Later he told me that he knew that if I was willing to fly with him "he knew that the plane was safe."  I had never had anyone show me that kind of trust in my young life.   Fortunately, I saw him several times after the war.  First at McGuire AFB and again when I would fly through Lambert.  He had a tremendous impact on my life.  Thank you Colonel Griggs and rest in peace my friend!!!  From 'Cider Maintenance' living in Florida.  Nothing But Respect always!  D. Paul Lewis

Sharing this with Dad’s buddies, especially Dad’s beloved best friend: retired USN pilot Jim Naumann:

                  X marks the spot

Where Dad told me good bye:

Where he said he would see me in a year:

And X marks the spot:   where a miracle occurred.  Two very harrowing years later, my adored, revered, cherished father arrived home from combat, covered in glory.  Our hearts soared with quiet pride.

But little did I know, almost seven years later, he would be ripped from our lives by a Starling  interloper, and her progeny.

So I think of Zhivago, and the haunting lyricism of Lara’s theme: Dad’s favorite.  Our hero, clad in his long green flight-suit, comes to me in dreams now, in tow, his longtime USAF wingman: USAF Major Samuel Mackall Deichelmann, MIA/KIA, 6 September 1968.  

Sam is “buried” in Arlington with parents US Army Air Corps, Major General (USMA) and Mrs. Mackall Deichelmann. Included in their quartet is Sam’s brother: USAF  Lt. Col. Steve,  killed in stateside landing incident soon after Sam’s action report.

Sam and Dad are together now in fighter pilot Valhalla, doing swoopers for eternity.  And, if I listen to Glen Campbell’s haunting tune, ‘Wichita Lineman’ before drifting into deep slumber, they walk out of the mist, smiling , conversant and within my embrace.

I love you Daddie, forevermore. — Linus

In 1971, I served with Col Griggs at McGuire AFB, NJ.  He was the Deputy Director of Operation. C-141 crew members will never forget him. Not unusual for him to show up on the flightline (in his VW Beetle) at 4:00AM to ensure support was there to launch our missions. This was the very first time I remember that a Colonel was there to take personal control of all services. We loved him for that.
Later, in 1973 I served with him at Scott AFB when he was Director of Command and Control and I was in Operations. We both arrived about the same time just as the Yom Kippur war in Israel started.
I was also one of his squash partner and we had fierce battles.
Jim Donahoe, Col USAF (Ret)

I worked for Colonel Griggs as St. Louis Airport Authority public relations manager from 1978 to 1983 at Lambert-St, Louis International Airport. Many people remember "The Colonel" as a brilliant leader who inspired the best performances in the people who reported to him. I remember him as that, too. But I also remember him as a great personal friend and inspirational mentor.  He was a superior boss who patiently listened to your side of a plan and gave you a long rope, figuratively speaking, to accomplish agreed-upon goals and objectives. He was a generous manager who never micro-managed anything and would let you do things your way, as long as the expected outcome was sure to be a success. I will miss his insanely funny, off-color jokes that revealed a keen understanding of human nature. Colonel Griggs will always   be remembered for giving everything his best effort and providing comfort and solace to anyone who needed it. He was one of a kind.  -- Robert F. (Bob) Case

My deep condolences to Denise and "The Colonel's" family.
I worked with him through the City of St. Louis and it was a great privilege to know him and learn from him.  He was the consumate gentleman, leader and professional.
 May God Greatly Bless Him.
Gloria  L. Milla

Safe flight to your final destination ole friend. Griggs was the foundation and mentor to us Missouri airport directors at the time. His humor coupled with his military aura was always entertaining.

Rob HancIk, A.A.E.
Punta Gorda, Florida 
(Retired Director Aviation 
Springfield, Missouri)

Here at the Gene Slay’s Girls & Boys Club, we are saddened to learn of Col. Griggs’ passing. Col. Griggs provided decades of leadership to GSGBC as a member of our Board of Directors, and we are honored to be named as his preferred charity. His insight and support were critical to our growth to reach more children and youth, and we are honored to continue his legacy.

Colonel Griggs was one of the most influential professors I had the benefit of learning from while at Parks College.  I learned a great deal of practical knowledge from him regarding the operations of airports- which I continue to use to this day, decades later.

A great leader, teacher and man.

from 'Coastie' widow\ed has been at JeffBarrax 7yrs and 2 months...sorry to your family for their loss...remember hearing news reports of the Col and his triumphant airport milestones:-)  st anns.

It was a great honor to work with Colonel Griggs as Construction Manager for the Terminal 2 Project and as Program Manager on The Airport Expansion Program. He was truly a leader in every sense of the word. I'll miss his sense of humor and his long term friendship. My deepest condolences to his wife Denise and his entire family.

As a command combat pilot in the USAF, Leonard was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Vietnamese Medals of Gallantry and Honor, thirty five unit citation medals, two Purple Hearts, et al. He flew three back-to-back tours as an 01f Birddog Forward Air Controller, embedded with the Green Berets in the Cambodian Highlands, seeing extreme close combat: unarmored, alone.  He was widely known as an expert pilot, in almost every plane of his era.

Not only did he carry the USMA cadet corps with his math skills, he went on to mentor three classes of USAFA cadets, as their squadron commander and ad hoc math tutor, with just a slide rule. Later in life, he sat for the licensed professional engineer exam: 'cold', with no prep,  with only a slide ruler.

During his active USAF career, my father earned three  masters degrees in aeronautical engineering, writing a thesis on the wing characteristics of the then-experimental stealth bomber. In 1970,  he was awarded a Masters in International Relations at GW.

Leonard was Distinguished Graduate at the Naval War College and the Army War College. He had a deep understanding of geopolitics, and kept up his mastery of the Russian language that he honed at West Point    

He earned the rank of Colonel way below the zone, always promoted early in his career.  He caught the eye of Pentagon brass, spending two years  attached to the command staff, grooming him for general. His was next Vice Commander of an entire wing, where he was instrumental in defending the nation of Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Dad lived on Generals Row and was slated to pin on his first star when the Mayor of St. Louis enticed him into sudden  retirement   Dad saved the city of St. Louis from moving Lambert far south, away from its manufacturing hub, encompassing McDonnell Douglas and Emerson.

Everyone who knew him enjoyed his lightning quick humor and enormous personal charm.

OBITUARY

Col. Leonard Leroy Griggs Jr.

October 13, 1931 – November 20, 2023

Kriegshauser Mortuary-West Chapel

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