Born in Belgium in 1880, Louis Leonard came to McDonald, Pennsylvania, as an infant and relocated to Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1906. Having no formal schooling, he began as a puddler in the Whitaker Steel Mill in Wheeling. He became head of the Ohio Trade and Labor Association and ran for the Wheeling City Council seat in the 4th ward. He served as secretary-treasurer of the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers (AAISTW), based in Pittsburgh from 1919 until 1942. He became a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 20th Ward (D--8th District) from 1940 to 1966. He died in 1969 at the age of 89.
From the description of Louis Leonard papers, 1882-1964. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 456555593
