Sunbelt - Sunbelt Expo Program 2019

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.

Mobile Information Technology Center
Building B- 5

Dr. Will R. Getz Sheep & Goat Section Morton Building

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal and, where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632- 9992 to request the form.You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities and wish to file either an EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish). Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, based on the passage of the Food &Agricultural Act of 1977 on September 29,1977, and in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture,Mark Latimore Jr.,Extension Administrator and Director of Land-Grant Affairs for the College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology, Fort Valley State University, a State and Land-Grant Institution, University System of Georgia. Fort Valley State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s and educational specialist degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Fort Valley State University. Fort Valley State University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate against applicants, students or employees on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability or marital or veteran status.