Jerris Leonard

Jerris Leonard 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 and four years in the State Assembly, 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, Bayside, Fox Point, Glendale, Granville, River Hills, Shorewood, and Whitefish Bay. He served two terms, and advanced to the Wisconsin State Senate in 1960, serving two terms. He ran against United States Senator Gaylord Nelson in the 1968 United States Senate election and was defeated.

Federal service

He was in the United States Department of Justice 1969–1973 during the administration of President Richard Nixon, serving as the first administrator of the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration.

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.