Leland Allred, an All-District and All-State athlete in three sports at Wichita Falls High School in the late 1950s, passed away May 30 ^th at the age of 80. A celebration of his remarkable life among family and friends will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church. Many memories of Leland's athletic ability, humility, compassion and sportsmanship will come to mind. In victory or in defeat, Leland was a man of dignity.

His smile and warm demeanor were as legendary as his graceful motion on the pitcher's mound, scoring a basket or catching a pass. He was a man who cultivated friends and his friends found him loyal, funny and compassionate.

The only time he would raise his voice in anger was at a Texas Longhorn loss, or a bad shot off the tee box at Weeks Park.

He was born, Maurice Leland Allred, Jr. on October 15, 1940, to Maurice Leland Allred and Shirley Mae Smyth Allred.  He grew up in Wichita Falls on Dayton Street, with his sisters, Marsha and Judy. He attended Ben Franklin, Zundy and Wichita Falls Senior High School.

Leland loved all sports and played baseball, football, and basketball all through his Coyote years.  He was All District and All State in football and baseball.  In 1958 he was chosen as All American in football. His 1958 Coyote team won the state championship, and his picture hangs in the locker room at WFHS to this day.  Leland was a class favorite, and his friendly demeanor paired with this superior athletic skills were the foundations of his life.

In 1959 he attended the University of Texas in Austin. He was recruited by Darrell Royal to play football along with two of his WFHS teammates.  He majored in Business and pledged Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity where he made many life-long friends.

After college, Leland returned to Wichita Falls, where he spent his entire life. In June 1964, he married his college sweetheart Ruth Ann Erskine of Midland, Texas.  Their daughter Ruth Catherine Allred was born in 1967 and their son, Leland Cullen Allred was born in 1970.

He worked for his father at Maurice Allred Finance Co, sold Life Insurance for United Fidelity and Occidental, and also worked at North Texas Savings and Loan as Assistant Vice President and Loan Officer.

In 1974 Leland and his father bought Holts Sporting Goods and moved the location from Downtown to the new Sikes Senter Mall.  In 1983 Leland sold the mall store and became an Independent Sporting Goods Sales Representative, selling to retail outlets all over Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. During his career he sold many familiar athletic brands, but the cornerstone of his career was when he met two young men who had just started a company in their garage. He and his partners at Bob Woods and Associates believed in their product and agreed to be their first sales representatives. The product was Under Armour, sales took off, and Leland continued to sell this product until his retirement. At that time, he played golf every moment he was able.

He was a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church, and served as an Usher greeting members as they arrived for services.

Throughout his life, Leland led or participated in supporting many sports-related organizations. Leland participated in the formation of the Pioneer Bowl in 1972. He was Pioneer Bowl Chairman for the NCAA College Division Football Play-Offs and served on the Executive Committee. In addition, during his life, he served on the Boards of the Central YMCA, School for Little People, Junior Chamber of Commerce, Board of Realtors Association, American Heart Association and Sikes Senter Merchant Association. He was also a member of the Jaycees, the National Association of Underwriters, the Wichita County Homebuilders Association and the Rotary Club.

Survivors include Leland's wife of 57 years, Ruth Ann; his daughter Catherine Allred Davis and her husband Joe Davis of Coppell, Texas; and his son Cullen Allred and his wife Julie Allred of Wichita Falls. His grandchildren include Hannah Allred and Austin Allred of Lubbock, Texas; Madison Davis of Dallas, Texas; Thomas Wilson of Houston, Texas; Louis Wilson of Pittsburgh, PA; and Mary Wilson and John Wilson of Wichita Falls.  He is also survived by his sisters: Marsha Swanson of Plano, Texas; Judy Henning and her husband Gary of League City, Texas; his brother-in-law Wayne McDonald of Austin, Texas; and his aunt Mrs. Johnny Allred, and cousins Dick Allred and Ann Allred Kable.

Leland also leaves behind many nieces and nephews: Shirley Swanson Huber, Smyth Swanson Goodman, Kurt Eller, Elizabeth Eller Herff, Debbie McDonald, Wayne McDonald Jr, Ed Erskine and Ellie Mabry.

He reunites in heaven with his mother and father, his sister-in-law Mary Louise McDonald of Austin, Texas; his brother-in-law Bill Erskine of Midland, Texas; his brother-in-law Bob Swanson of Midland, Texas; his nephew Bert Swanson of Midland, Texas and his niece, Leslie Eller of Taos, New Mexico.

The family would like to thank the staff at Advanced Rehabilitation of Wichita Falls for the tremendous care they provided. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wichita Falls High School Athletic Fund or the YMCA Little League programs.

Condolences may be sent to the family at lunnscolonial.com