Blog 159: Meet Leon S. Gill, Sr.

By Vernon M. Herron

     Leon Samuel Gill, Sr. is a native of Charlotte, NC and was born the same year I finished Second Ward High School, in 1947. He and his wife, Wol, now reside in Madison, Alabama with their two sons, Leon, Jr. and Sean.

    

     In the year 1966, Leon  was drafted into the U.S. States Army, and served honorably for the next 21½ years, retiring as a Sergeant First Class in 1988.  Following his military service he continued to serve his country for another 19 years with the U.S. States Government Accountability Office (GAO), as a GS-14, Senior Analyst. 

     Mr. Gill’s military assignments include a combat tour in the Republic of Vietnam from 1967-1968, where he served as a combat infantryman with the First Cavalry Division.  Other overseas assignments include tours of duty in Saudi Arabia and Korea.  In addition to his combat tour, Mr. Gill served as an Army Drill Sergeant, Army Recruiter, Career Counselor, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Advisor, Army Training Course Manager and Instructor, Army Commissary Officer, and Operations, Plans, Training, and Security Noncommissioned Officer.

     Mr. Gill received numerous awards and decorations during his many years of service to his country.  Among his military honors are the Meritorious Service Medal, four Army Commendation Medals, seven Good Conduct Awards, the Air Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Device, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.

     Mr. Gill’s civilian awards include the Comptroller General’s Meritorious Service Award, the Comptroller General’s Equal Opportunity Award, the Managing Director’s Meritorious Service Award, the Managing Director’s Distinguished Service Medal and numerous letters and certificates of commendation.

     He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with honors from St. Leo University, in St. Leo, Florida and his Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama. 

     Mr. Gill’s community and other organizational involvements include past membership on the Bob Jones High School Board of Trustees, Executive Committee Member of the Huntsville Chapter of Blacks in Government (BIG), Life Member of BIG, Life Member of the NAACP, and a Life Member of the Second Ward High School National Alumni Foundation.

     Leon will continue the blogging work of Vernon M. Herron once the goal of publishing the 200^th blog is reached. He will have his own format. Vernon will guest write as inspiration leads. For those who have followed my writing on this blog, thanks for your interest. You may continue to “follow” it or not at your option.