Jerris Leonard

Jerris Gilbert Leonard Jr. (January 17, 1931 – July 27, 2006) was an American lawyer and Republican politician. He served as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division in the United States Department of Justice during the first two years of the Richard Nixon administration. Prior to his federal service, he served eight years in the Wisconsin Senate (1961–1969) and four years in the State Assembly (1957–1961), representing northern Milwaukee County.

Background and personal life Leonard was born on January 17, 1931, to Jerris and Marie Leonard in Chicago, Illinois. His family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he graduated from Rufus King High School. He earned a B.S. in business administration in 1952 from Marquette University, and in 1955 earned an LL.B. from Marquette University Law School.

On August 22, 1953, he married Mariellen C. Mathie, with whom he had six children. He died on July 27, 2006, in Bethesda, Maryland.

Legislative service Leonard was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1956 to succeed William Kasik from the 19th Milwaukee County district, which included the Town of Milwaukee (but not the City of Milwaukee itself), Bayside, Fox Point, Glendale, Granville, River Hills, Shorewood, and Whitefish Bay.

United Sciences of America, Inc. In the 1980s Leonard served as president of United Sciences of America, Inc., a multi-level marketing company selling nutritional supplements, which was accused of deceptive practices and false claims, and eventually filed bankruptcy.