Yep, it's me...Leonard the guy at Hucks in Christopher, Il. This is my webpage. Here's all you need to know about me personally. I'm 43 and a lifelong resident of Christopher, Il. I attended Christopher Grade and High Schools(Class of 1985) and I've worked at my current job for 20 years(beginning July 11, 1990).(it's what I do, however, and not who I am) I'm single and I love it........... you can click on the picture of me above to go to my facebook page, where you can find out even more about me. |
Me at 9 years old in the fall of 1976(third grade)...click on my picture for some goofy school pictures.... |
My Family |
I'm lucky to have a great family. My mom and dad are probably my best friends and have stood by me and have been there when I needed them most. I'd be nowhere without them to be truthful. I have 4 great sisters as well........Connie, Lori, Kim and Cindy. I'm the baby of the family. My family has grown by leaps and bounds and I have many nephews and nieces as well.......as well as a few GREAT nephews and nieces........ |
Mom and dad on their wedding day, November 23, 1957 and again in 1978. |
Mom and me(May 2003) |
Dad and me(May 2003) |
My Grandmothers |
On January 17, 2000, my grandma, Margaret "Maggie" Qualls passed away at 93 years old. Click on her picture above to read more about her....... |
Grandma Pearson |
Click here to view some pictures of my family! |
Lew Jetton & 61 South |
Lew and the Boys cd "State Line Blues." Click on cd cover to go to Lew Jetton & 61 South's webpage. |
I can remember the first time I saw Lew Jetton on WPSD TV 6 a LONG time ago.....I can remember the afternoon anchor(local legend TOM BUTLER) introducing the new weatherman Lewis Jetton! Lew left Channel 6 on May 23, 2007 after 18 great years at WPSD! Lew will be missed on our local airwaves! Be sure and catch Lew and 61 South when they come to your town! |
I got to meet Lew and see him perform at Herrin Festa Italiania's blues night on May 23, 2002. Click picutre for more pictures of that day. Click HERE for pics of the May 22, 2003 show, which I once again attended with my sister Lori. Click here for the 2004 show. Click HERE for the 2005 Show! |
I'd always been fascinated with television from as long as I can remember. However, my fascination was increased when my neighbor, Roy Baxley(a local bee-keeper, classical guitarist and magician) recieved a call from WPSD TV 6 in August of 1979 to appear in a report on their newscast. Lucille Baxley(Roy's wife) called my mother and invited us to watch while Roy was interviewed by a reporter from WPSD. I remember it like it was yesterday. My mother(Ann)and our neighbors, Bob Furlow and Randy Biby, all stood in the background while Roy(who was a well-known Bee-Keeper) played his guitar for the reporter and cameraman. The reporter interviewed Roy for quite awhile and I noticed the cameraman focusing on me a few times.....I expected I'd have my BIG local tv debut on their newscast. So that evening, we tuned in to NEWSBEAT'79(as WPSD's newscast was called) and the report aired. It was a great piece, but I was disappointed that my big moment in the sun consisted of a brief long shot of all of us listening to Roy. I learned a lot about tv that afternoon and I was bitten by the bug. I dreamed of being in broadcasting, but as life has it, it never happened. However, my love of the business continues and I love to see great people doing great work. I have seen many reporters, anchors, weathermen and sportscasters come and go, so I've created several webpages saluting mostly local television personalities and shows(and some national shows). Click picture below to enter "Leonard's World of Television." Click on Roy Baxley's picture to learn more about Roy Baxley. |
News From Christopher Illinois |
With a population of around 2800 people, not a lot goes on here that I could write about. If I were to write about all the gossip I hear, now that would make an interesting page....but I don't think I'll go there. Christopher, Illinois celebrated it's 100 year birthday on July 3, 4 and 5th with a city wide party in 2004, which was so successful that they've decided to make it an annual event. The Second Annual Homecoming was held on August 5, 6 and 7th, 2005. The summer of 1999 also brought some excitement. A motion picture was filmed here. Poor White Trash(formerly "Goodbye Sunrise") used several locations in Franklin County and Southern Illinois for filming. The old Mr. Snak building on Highway 14 was used for a scene in the movie. Several locals got to be extras. The movie made it's Southern Illinois premier in Benton, Il at Toler Cinema. Most of the people I talked to thought the movie was really well done and quite entertaining!!! There is a controversy over the new title. I feel that this doesn't represent Southern Illinois, but a certain type of people who happen to LIVE in Southern Illinois. The controversy is good publicity and will get the film more attention. I'm sure this will be used to its fullest. That isn't the only hollywood connection Christopher has....at least a couple of famous people were born here...Gene Rayburn(a famous game show host who died Nov. 29, 1999 click here for obit.) was born here....AND award winning actor John Malkovich was born in Miner's Hospital(located on the end of the street that I grew up on!) My good friend Craig Edwards is the production assistant on "Dawson's Creek". He has worked on production and as an extra on several movie and tv projects including the TV show "American Gothic", "Empire Records" starring Rene' Zellweger(see pic below) and the movie "Virus" starring Jamie Lee Curtis(available at your local Wal-Mart)... |
Click on picture to go to the movie's website |
My good friend Craig Edwards as "Male Rex Manning Fan" in the movie "EMPIRE RECORDS". Click on his picture for his filmography in the IMDB(Internet Movie Database) |
I've been listening to WCIL FM 101.5 since the summer of 1978. It was all AM radio and KXOK before then. However, my sister got an FM clock radio that summer and I played it while she was out. Ironically the first song I can remember hearing on WCIL was "Summer Nights" by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta! I remember lots of the djs through the years....Tony Waitkus, Terry Duckworth, Lori Jo Thompson, John Riley, Mike Chylewski...all the way up to Jon E. Quest, who is a great guy......To find out whatever happened to these guys and more click here! I've seen many styles of music come and go, Disco, New Wave, Heavy Metal, Teen pop, Alternative and now(I can NOT stand it at all) RAP(god help us all).....but you CAN count on one thing...CIL plays all the biggest hits and always stays on top of what is hot........tune in to see what the kids are listening to...... |
click above for WCIL's official website! |
Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the world-wide web......be sure and sign the guestbook below to let me know you've been here.......I always appreciate your comments(especially the good ones)...... |
The Fabulous FOX Theatre, St. Louis Presents Olivia Newton-John Sunday, June 22 With guest Michael Buble' On Sunday June 22, 2003 I achieved a long-time goal of seeing my favorite, all-time Entertainer Olivia Newton-John in concert! Olivia appeared at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis along with opening act Michael Buble'. It was a night I'll never forget. Click on the picture of me in front of the Fox Theatre above to read my online diary of the week of the show! |
ONJ in St. Louis!! |
Click picture above to read my blog of the week leading up to the concert.....it was quite a week of ups and downs..... |
Michael Buble' performed a great 45 minute set before the goddess came out! |
Links |
John Malkovich grew up in nearby Benton, Il, but was born at Miner's Hospital in Christopher. His movies include Places in the Heart, with Sally Field and Dangerous Liasons with Glenn Close...the acclaimed actor still comes home to the area to visit his family! Click on his picture for his filmography from the IMDB(Internet Movie Database) |
The new civic center complex, which houses the Police dept. and mayor's office. This was formerly the Vic Kretz Ford building. |
my mother, Grandma Pearson and my sister Lori in the late 1950's |
Uncle Clyde"Dudy", son Scott and my dad August 31, 2003 |
A picture of my grandma when she was married to Jack Riggs, circa the 1920's |
Grandma Qualls |
Roy, from an article in the Christopher Progress about his appearance on Newsbeat '79 |
For some rare pics of me, click picture above! |
Sign the Guestbook, or ELSE!! (I lost my old one, so this is a new one) |
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men."- Willy Wonka |
For pictures of my trip to Cancun, click on picture at left. |
A Few More Things... |
What's New in the World of Leonard! |
IN MEMORIAM Clyde L. "Dudy" Riggs May 27, 1919-March 11, 2005 |
Click on ribbon to visit breastcancer.org |
Dean Martin stars as the original swinger agent, Matt Helm, in this four-disc set including: THE SILENCERS, MURDERERS ROW, THE WRECKING CREW, and THE AMBUSHERS. THE SILENCERS: The first of the series of Matt Helm films, the big cheese of Big O, an organization that wants to sabotage the American atomic missile system. It's up to secret agent Helm to save the day. MURDERER'S ROW: The handsome top agent Matt dies a tragic death in his bathtub - the women mourn about the loss. However it's just faked for his latest top-secret mission: He shall find Dr. Solaris, inventor of the Helium laser beam, powerful enough to destroy a whole continent. It seems Dr. Solaris has been kidnapped by a criminal organization. The trace leads to the Cote D'Azur. THE AMBUSHERS: A government space saucer is hijacked mid-flight by a powerful laser beam under the control of Jose Ortega, who then proceeds to rape the female pilot, Sheila Sommars. ICE sends agent Matt Helm to Acapulco with Sheila to recover the saucer, under the guise of Matt taking fashion photographs of beautiful models. Matt is temporarily sidetracked, falling prey to the seductive charms of enemy agent Franceca Madeiros. THE WRECKING CREW: The count has stolen enough gold to cause a financial crisis in the world markets so I.C.E. sends in ace spy Matt Helm to stop him. As Matt works alone, the British send in Freya to aid Matt, but it seems that Freya causes more problems than she solves. |
Order these great cds and movies from AMAZON.COM |
Now Available!!! Lew Jetton and 61 South's latest cd "Tales From a 2 Lane" Also available "State Line Blues"(above) Click on the cd cover to go to Lew's website where you can order it! |
You can order all of the following movies, tv shows and cds from Amazon.com. Just use the search box below to go there! |
LOST season 4 this winter and spring on ABC |
To See pictures of my trip to Evansville, IN to see Josh Groban with my friend Alice Wise, click picture above. |
ON THE WEB FOR 10 YEARS!! |