agronomist, and was district conservationist for
surrounding counties there.
Mrs. Mary passed away four years ago. John was
by her side. They were married 41 years. They have
three children: a daughter, Laura, and son Mark is
married to Laura Kate, and son Andrew is married to
Courtney. They all live in Atlanta.
The Leidners were sort of hands-off but directly
supportive of their children, Mark said, preferring to
lead by example, giving their children the tools to
solve their own problems, and, most importantly,
cultivate a healthy imagination, providing a safe
place with good books to read, which was center in
their home.
“As kids, we said our prayers together. He was
big on us knowing the difference between right
and wrong and having a good conscious. That was
very important to them both, and that was really
his only rule. That’s where he put all his chips,” said
Mark, 38, who is an English professor at Georgia State
Perimeter College.
Everyone who knew John, knew he loved football.
“And in high school, when I stopped playing football,
he was a little disappointed, but I played soccer and
he went to every single soccer game, always taking
us (the children) to every event we participated in
and being there. At the time, I didn’t understand
what that really meant. Now I’m older, I understand
it much more,” Mark said. “They were devoted.”
Leidner was very sick when he was in the
hospital. Even then, he was listening. Somebody
would say something, maybe a nurse speaking about
him, “He’d wake up, zing them with quick one-liner,
make them laugh, and he’d go back to sleep.”
Mark and Andrew, along with their wives, are
both expecting sons. Due date for both babies is later
in September. The first grandchildren for John and
Mary.
A SALAD MAN
Dr. Bob Kemerait is the University of Georgia
Extension plant pathologist. Shortly after moving
to Tifton almost 20 years ago, Kemerait got to know
Leidner through the Knights of Columbus at their
Catholic church.
“From the first, I really liked John and greatly
appreciated his enthusiasm and his absolute
willingness to help no matter the task. We both
took turns providing coffee and doughnuts after
Mass on Sundays,” Kemerait said, adding they
both worked together to support the church’s
annual Pig Pickin’, too. Kemerait was the pig
cooker; Leidner the salad man.
“Once he came up to me and said, ‘Bob, I really
need to interview you.’ That’s when I came to know
John Leidner was a well-respected journalist. At
meetings, I would always find him on the very
front row, old-time journalism, taking meticulous
handwritten notes. He was a class act, always
thanking me for the time I gave him. I owed him
the greater gratitude. I miss him, especially when
he would say, ‘Bob, let’s finish making the salad and
roasting the pig, then we can sit down and do an
interview,” Kemerait said.
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October 16 for
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