Ronald L. Leslie, 75, died Aug. 12, 2016, in Goodland. He was born Aug. 19, 1940, in Goodland, to U.H. and Nellie Leslie.

Ron graduated from Goodland High School, then from the University of Kansas in 1962 with a business degree and again in 1965 with a law degree.

On Sept. 12, 1964, he married the love of his life, Joleen Miller, from Oberlin. To that marriage were born two sons, Brian and Kent. Ron is survived by: son, Brian, currently living in Manhattan. He was preceded in death by: his parents; his wife on April 17, 2015; and a son, Kent.

During the Vietnam War, Ron served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged as a captain. He practiced law in Hutchinson for over 40 years with several different firms and groups of lawyers. Ron was a member and past president of the Reno County Bar Association and had served as the chair of the Ethics and Grievance Committee for over 20 years. Ron also served as the Municipal Court Judge of Buhler, South Hutchinson, Haven, and Nickerson at various times in his career. In his later years, he specialized in Bankruptcy law and had been elected by his peers to a term as Chairman of the Bankruptcy section of the Kansas Bar Association.

He believed strongly in his community and was very active in it. In his youth, he had been named one of the three outstanding young men of Kansas by the Kansas Jaycees, due primarily to his work in organizing one of the first Big Brothers chapters in the state. Ron also had been President or a board member in many organizations, including the Hutchinson Jaycees, Reno County United Way, YMCA, Rotary, and the Cosmosphere. He was also a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and had served on its administrative board.

One of his passions had been classical music, and this led him into performing with the Hutchinson Symphony as a percussionist. He also served two terms as its President.

Another of his passions was politics. During his youth, he had been Chairman of the Reno County Republican Party. Later he was elected to the Hutchinson City Commission and served as Mayor in 1992.

After he left the Commission he was re-elected by his fellow commissioners to serve out the unexpired terms of two commissioners who had resigned.

He was a life member of the University of Kansas Alumni Association and an avid follower of K.U. sports.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 17th and Main, with Reverends Michael McGuire and Jim Rhaesa officiating. Cremation will follow. Private family inurnment will take place in Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with family to receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Memorials may be made to Hutchinson Symphony Association or Trinity United Methodist Church, in care of Elliott Mortuary 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.