The Washington Post Magazine had a great piece on news anchor Leon Harris (WJLA 7, DC) today…here’s a real story of a young boy who realized from an early age that his own father was not the kind of man he wanted to grow up to be. His own father, a man who struggled with drug addiction, domestic violence and crime was not a positive presence in Leon’s life. He states, “if there was anything I wanted to be, it was the exact opposite of him. Whenever I’ve come to a crossroads in my life, I would think to myself: What would he do? And I would do the exact opposite.”

“He eventually went on to Ohio University on a National Merit Scholarship. There, Harris joined the school’s speech and debate team. His friends were puzzled. “Black people don’t speech,” one of them told him. He did; Harri’s team eventually finished fourth in a national tournament.”

“At night in the bedroom attic that he shared with his brothers in the Nashes’ home, Leon imagined what he could become. He visualized the brick house he would live in as an adult, the cars in the driveway, the pool in the back, the trees just so. He wanted to carry a briefcase to work and wear a mustache. He was fascinated by Darrin Stephens, the ad man married to the pretty witch Samantha, on “Bewitched”. Darrin carried a briefcase, “and people respected him for what he knew”.

Leon has had an impressive career as a scholar, national and local news anchor, husband, father and community advocate.

Respect, Leon, Respect.

Read the Washing Post article here.