Leonard Preston Mercer

Paschal High School

Class of 1959

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Leonard Preston Mercer - Class of 1959 - Paschal High School

First Name	Leonard Preston
Last Name	Mercer
Graduation Year	Class of 1959
Gender	Male
Current Location	Lakewood Ranch , Florida
Hometown	Fort Worth, Texas
Relationship Status	Married
About Me	In the early 1960s, I was not sure of a major at the University of Texas so I decided to take a break from my studies to play drums in a band - the Silvertones played fraternity parties and traveled. Eventually, the band dissolved, everyone graduated and went on to their profession. I finally received my Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin in 1967 (only took 8 years!); doctorate in biochemistry from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 1971; and NIH postdoctoral fellowship in Nutritional Biochemistry from the College of Medicine at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. After receiving my doctorate, I helped establish the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile. In 1977 I became involved with a university that combined medical school and a faith-based environment, helping start the medical and dental school at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla. After teaching medicine for 20 years, I decided that it was time for something new. In 1990, I became chair of the department of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Kentucky. In 1999, I took the CEO position at the University of South Florida-Lakeland campus. This gave me the opportunity to travel to Cairo, Egypt for the United Nations and also become a member of the Oxford University Round Table. Currently I am Professor of Biochemistry at USF having “retired” from academic administration but still enjoying being in the classroom. My wife Diane and I have been blessed with three children - Cindy has an MBA - she and her husband own sporting goods stores in Anchorage, Tim is a dentist in Sarasota (that way I get free dental care!) and my youngest is a pastor's wife and teacher. We also have 13 grandchildren. 50th anniversary coming up. Now that the children are grown, Diane and I visit the grand kids and travel. S...(read more)