William Happel was born September 27, 1909. He was named for the Leatherwood family doctor in Cleburne and called Happel by very few people, other than his mother, but went by the nickname "Cotton". He was the third son born to Mitt and Cora Leatherwood. His brothers were Jake, Bud and Buster, Buster lived only seven years.Cotton attended school at Wake, Leatherwood and Crosbyton. The family moved to Crosbyton from the East Plains in 1921 so the boys could continue their education. Jake and Cotton graduated from C.H.S. in 1927, and Bud the following year. The Leatherwood boys were very athletic, all played on Crosbyton football team, with Cotton playing right guard or center. In 1929 and 1930, having received a football scholarship, he went to school in Plainview and played under the direction of coach Frank Kimbrough at Wayland Baptist College. One of the teams defeated during this time by young Leatherwood´s team was Texas Tech. Trips were taken by the team by bus. Wayland Jackrabbits were one of the first teams in Texas to play under the night lights at El Paso School of Mines. Transportation to Wayland for Cotton was by car to Floydada and from there to Plainview by train. College life for Cotton was short. Having lost his father in death in 1927, he had to leave school at mid-team during this second year in college to help care for his mother´s farm and ranch. In Oct. 1921, John and Rozzie Lee Steadham moved their family from near Graham to Crosby Co. and one of the daughters, Linnie Jewel, born Nov. 27, 1911, later became the wife of Cotton. They were married Aug. 12, 1933 in Lorenzo.
Jewel attended school at Leatherwood, Pansy, McAdoo and Crosbyton High. She was on the basketball team at Leatherwood and Pansy which was played on outdoor courts. The teams dressed in white blouses and black sateen bloomers.
Courting for the Leatherwoods, as it was for most young couples on the East Plains during the depression years, usually meant going in groups and with whatever form of transportation the boys could secure, which might be horseback, horse drawn wagons, trucks or Model T´s and A´s.
Cotton and Jewel have one son Kenneth.
Cotton is a long time member of Masonic Lodge, and he and Jewel are members of Order of Eastern Star. Jewel is a member of First United Methodist Church in Crosbyton. They resided on the East Plains just a short distance from the place where Cotton was born.
Source: "A History of Crosby County 1876-1977" © Crosby County Historical Commission 1978; Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas. page 361 and 362
CROSBYTON (Special) -Services for W. H. "Cotton" Leatherwood, 82, of Crosbyton will be at 3:30 p.m. today in Crosbyton First United Methodist Church with the Revs. Johnnie Williams, a retired Methodist minister, and Beth Harrington, pastor, officiating.Burial will be in Crosbyton Cemetery under direction of Adams Funeral Home.
He died at 9:45 p.m. Friday in Humana Hospital in Abilene after a lengthy illness.
He was born in Crosby County. He married Jewel Steadham on Aug. 12, 1933, in Lorenzo. He was a farmer and a rancher. He was a member and past master of the Crosbyton Masonic Lodge, past worthy patron of the Crosbyton Order of the Eastern Star and district deputy grand master of the 93rd District of the Masonic Lodge. He was a member of the Crosbyton Cemetery Board and Crosbyton First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Kenneth of Seagoville; three grandchildren; and four great-grandsons.
Pallbearers will be Eugene Hardin, Choise Smith, Lawrence McDowell, Noble Hunsucker, J.D. Sheer, Rick Sudduth, Bill Carlisle, Eric Swenson, Larry Ratheal, Jimmy Barnett and Jimmie Wheeless.
©Lubbock Avalanche Journal, September 12, 1992
Services for Jewel Leatherwood, 94, of Crosbyton will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 28, 2006 at the Crosbyton First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Karan Young and the Rev. Allen Brooks officiating. Burial will be in the Crosbyton Cemetery, under the direction of Adams Funeral Home of Crosbyton.Jewel passed away Sunday, June 25, 2006 at Crosbyton Hospital.
She was born Nov. 27, 1911 in Young County to the late John Alexander Dixon Steadham and Rozzie Lee Pardue Steadham. On Aug. 12, 1933 she married
W. H. "Cotton" Leatherwood in Lorenzo. He preceded her in death on Sept. 11, 1992.
She was a member of the Crosbyton First United Methodist Church. Jewel attended school in Leatherwood, Pansy, McAdoo and Crosbyton. She was a member of the Ralls Order of Eastern Star #169 where she had served as Worthy Matron and was a charter member of the Crosbyton Chapter #891 which formed in 1942 and had served as Worthy Matron several times. Jewel had also served as Deputy Grand Matron of the organization. She was a homemaker and moved to Crosby County in 1921 from Young County.
Survivors include a son and his wife, Kenneth and Janice Leatherwood of Vernon; a brother, J. B. Steadham of Roy, Washington; a sister, Bea Cotner of Garland; three grandchildren, Amy Jarrett of Llano, Betsy Harkey of Vernon, Dee Leatherwood of Florence; seven great grandchildren, Jay, Jed and John Jarrett, Logan Harkey, Ashley and Cory Keith and Tate Leatherwood.
The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday at Adams Funeral Home in Crosbyton.
The family suggests memorials to the Crosbyton Order of the Eastern Star #891 P. O. Box 394 Crosbyton, Texas 79322.
©Lubbock Avalanche Journal, Tuesday, June 27, 2006
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