Leigh was raised in Milford, NJ and served a career in the US Air Force maintaining, testing and deploying missile systems. After retirement from the Air Force, he continued employment within the aerospace industry and then transitioned to project management within the financial sector before retiring from JPMorgan Chase a few years ago. Leigh received a BA degree in Social Sciences and an MS degree in Human Resources Management and Development with an emphasis in consulting from Chapman University in Orange, CA. Leigh and his wife, Pat were married in 1971 in Rapid City and have two married children each living in Arizona and Texas with their families.
After about six years of marriage, a neighbor that watched Leigh and Pat's children during the workday invited them to a new church that was beginning services in the local school. They were introduced to the Gospel message over the next months and were led to the Lord by the pastor after a couple visits to their home. Leigh held several roles in this church until he received orders for a military reassignment.
Leigh and Pat moved to Sioux Falls in 1998 and began attending Faith shortly thereafter. After experiencing six major relocations over the previous twenty years and never finding a strong church connection they felt God's presence reaching back into their lives through the pastoral care and congregational fellowship at Faith and joined the next year. Over the years Leigh has served in property management, CARE, and financial areas of the church. He's led marriage workshops with Pat, been involved in counseling, and has served on the elder council.
Leigh stays busy in his free time with golfing, doing handyman items, getting in a workout, keeping up with his kids and grandkids (even if it is from long distance), and spending time with Pat along with their golden doodle, Baxter.