Leon our washboard player!

It is with immense sadness we share the passing of our friend, Leon.  May you truly Rest in Peace, dear Leon. February 23, 1931 – 2021

Leon our local washboard player bringing JOY to so many!

Most first impressions of Leon are of gleeful fascination followed by pointing… “Look at that guy”. There are always smiles; lots of photos of Leon, our cowbell ringing washboard player, and of course the selfies with the man himself. Recently one of our guests said “I love watching and listening to Leon; he just makes me happy!”

We are clearly blessed to have such a character here in La Cruz. A regular in the Mexican Shuffle Band at Philo’s; Leon fans marvel at his unique instrument… the washboard. At 90 years young we could all learn lessons from Leon! He says that he keeps the blood pumping by staying active with his love of music and sharing it with others! Until very recently Leon played between three and six nights a week;

• At his official gig of 14 years at Philo’s Bar on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
• Most Tuesday evenings at Britannia’s open mic night.
• As a frequent drop in performer at Ana Banana’s, The Tree House Bar and numerous other live music venues in La Cruz.

Leon came to Bucerias after retiring “because other friends had done the same” and he thought “why not”? He bought a lot and built a house where he lived for ten years. After they married, he and his new wife decided the sleepier town of La Cruz was better suited to them so at 70 Leon was renovating a home near the ocean.

While he loves that there are so many live music options in La Cruz Leon says Ana Bananas is his sentimental favorite. “It was the only place to play in La Cruz back then. I have breakfast there daily and most importantly; I met my wife Peggy in this very spot!” (I happened to be interviewing him at Ana Bananas). Of that meeting he said, “I just knew she was the right person for me!”

About a year and half after meeting her, with his best buddies as witnesses, Leon got down on a knee in the Elks club in Springfield, Oregon and asked Peggy to be his wife! Shortly after they married in Fort Benton, Montana when Leon was showing his love where he was born. It was just the two of them so the city hall folks stood up for them. After confirming Peggy’s age they asked Leon his and Peggy told them “He was out there waving at Lewis and Clark as they went by on the Missouri!” Good one Peggy! They spent that night in the local hotel, which was built in the 1800’s and 21 years later they’re still together!!

Originally a teacher from Oregon, Leon says his years of teaching were the best of his life. In his 19 year teaching career he taught math and art in elementary school for 9 years then became a principal for the final 10 years. His favorite of it all was during his last 3 years as his split his duties between teaching and being principal. All 110 kids at Camp Creek School were to be taught Physical education and gymnastics. With a limited budget Leon managed to get a local furniture store to donate cushions and he sewed them all together to make a landing spot for the handstands and somersaults. He said that darn matt was so heavy he had to get the kids to help him move it. The students were from grades one thru six and he appointed two gals in grade one to be the leaders. He says about the kids “Just point them in the right direction; on their own they’ll do so much… you won’t believe it!” He was thrilled when each of those kids learned to walk on their hands; although in the process he got kicked in the face and a bloody nose more times than he’d like to remember. It inspired Leon how those young people would support each other to go as far as they could. One kid would walk on their hands and get about half way down the gym then take a seat… all would cheer and this was repeated one after another. One boy in the 2^nd grade, David Spear, went all the way across the gym and back and the crowd went wild! Leon remembers this as the best time of his life; “I loved it! One mom told me they never saw their kids face anymore as he was always walking on his hands!” Leon shared.

After retiring from teaching; tired of administrators who didn’t care about the kids, Leon bought a business taking school photos. He stayed at that for 22 years until he retired. He said he liked it but not as much as he did teaching… he reminded me “I LOVED teaching!”

He still stays in touch with those kids, now between the ages of 55 and 83, “the ones that haven’t passed” away he says!

Leon plays both the banjo and washboard and sings silly songs. His goal is simple; make people happy. Even his whimsical murals which adorn both Ana Banana’s and the Britannia Pub walls provide joy to all who visit.

Attending banjo camp most summers for as far back as he can remember is one of the highlights of his year. He says, “I’m not the oldest person there! The ages range from 12 – 95 and they all let me know I don’t know what I’m doing! You have to play a lot to be good.” They always ask him to bring his washboard. He had to miss band camp last summer due to conflicts; a school reunion, a family reunion and two funerals. He’s already looking forward to getting back there this coming summer.

He’s played the washboard for over 35 years and gone through more than he can count modifying and making them better. He enjoys playing Dixieland but I must say for those of us in the audience, its pretty amazing when he taps away to anything the band is playing.

Leon started his local music career here, as a member of ‘Bubba and the Bottom Feeders’. They played all kinds of music; rock & roll, country and blues. 100 -300 people came out to their Sunday gigs where he, Peggy and a few others entertained for tips. Those tips were then used to buy food for the needy in both Bucerias and La Cruz. Leon says that when they wrapped up the band after five years they had provided 30 tons of food to those in need and there was still money in the bank to do more good works. Bien hecho! Good job!

The loss of his dear friend, Philo, has left a hole in Leon’s heart. “Philo was a part of me, even when he made fun of me”. Philo used to delight in his cohort singling him out and teasing to Leon’s adoring following; “Leon… he’s a looker!” “Philo and I would pray together, share stories, ride our motorbikes, I miss him terribly!” Leon sighed.

The Mexican Shuffle Band played in Philo’s honor for many years. Many will remember them as they visited bars about town. If you do see Leon please say hi, he’d love that!

When I asked him what folks ‘about town’ don’t know about you, he answered: “That I was a basketball player in high school. Then in college I was being scouted by the pros but I twisted my knee and that was the end of that! They didn’t have the options for surgery back then like they do now.”

Leon admits he doesn’t prefer the growth of La Cruz and was happier when there were “only about 10 cars in town” but he also knows that the live music ‘Mecca’ that La Cruz has become provides lots of opportunity, for himself and others, to create great times and great memories!

If you had a magic wand, what would your wish for La Cruz de Huanacaxtle be 5 years from now and beyond? “Truly, I’d like it the same as it was ten years ago!”

I giggled at Leon’s favorite quote… “If I don’t see ya around here, I’ll see you around here. Ya hear, here!”

He beamed with pride when he spoke of his son an open heart surgery profusionist (the guy that keeps blood circulating via machine while the surgeons do their stuff) and his daughter who worked at Safeway from 16 until she passed away. However; there was no question of what Leon is most proud of in his life. With great emotion, full of pride and very humbled he told me the story of the day that made the greatest impact on his life. “I already told you about my love of teaching and my favorite teaching job; teaching the school kids gymnastics. Well, that school I taught in was being closed and the ‘kids’ who were then in their 50’s asked me to join them there. I arrived and we talked outside for a while. Then it was time to go in. I noticed the painting I had done on the walls, many years earlier of the Camp Creek Beavers, had been touched up. Then about six of my past students got on stage and singled me out. Remember the girls I told you about that I made a leaders when she they were in grade one? Well one of them got up there and looking straight at me she told me how I saved her life. She then told the crowd how her life at home was really terrible and that in that first grade year she didn’t want to live anymore. She said that when I gave her responsibilities and respect she started to enjoy life.”

What a compliment, what a man! Thanks Leon for sharing your story!

Leon even let me play… but I ain’t no true washboard player, that’s for sure!

Today, February 23, 2021, at 4pm Leon will be celebrating his 90th birthday at The La Cruz Inn.