I have dreaded and expected this day, someday. We’ve lost our most respected, knowledgeable trapper in Kentucky.
Leon was a hero and legend to many.From grade school where he taught, was principal, coached and mentored, through high school and on after retirement when he went to Colorado and became a government trapper.
He was a huge part of United Trappers of Kentucky. He was there at our first meet over twenty years ago and talked about mountain lion and bear trapping in Colorado. He was at every meet,did demos and gave and bid freely at any auction we had.
He made his last trip to the recent NTA convention. Some of you may have seen his son Dennis wheeling him around in a wheelchair.
Leon will be irreplaceable for us.
I was fortunate to have shared a few trap lines with him. He invented The Kentucky Otter Float trap that was featured in Trappers Post a few years back. I have seen many otters, coon and mink being caught in that set.
His other great outdoor love was turkey hunting. We hunted on the same leased farm for years and he always got his bird while helping someone else get theirs.
We will miss Leon greatly. We are grateful to have known him.

Sad for sure. RIP Leon

i am very sorry to hear this news. Irreplaceable for sure. RIP Leon. Yes, we are grateful to have know him.

RIP Leon Prayers for the Family

Oh man.... Thanks Leon for all you did for trappers, thanks for being a great human being, and most of all - Thanks for being our friend.

R.I.P. Leon, and prayers for Dennis & family.

Mr. Leon most certainly was a treasure to UTK and the trapping community as a whole. Everyone has a tip, trick or wrinkle that can help others to put fur on the stretcher, but not everyone has the generosity to share with the ability to teach. Mr. Leon gave and had both. His passion for the outdoors and those who persude the trapping trail was very apparent when he spoke at meetings and personally. Filling shoes like his is unimaginable. May God bless Dennis and his family in the days to come. Dennis truly appreciated his dad, first as a son and secondly as a friend.

Sorry to hear, i was at the first UTK convention long ago so im sure i met him.

Sent with prayer for friends and family.

I met him at the UTK convention at Mayfield a few years back. He was a good man.

Rickey

Most defiantly a great man , i sure wished everyone could have meet him . he was one of them guys you just loved and admired from the first minute. RIP , potlicker.

Prayers for the family. Sorry to hear of Leon's passing.

Leon’s arrangements

https://www.norris-new.com/obituary/Leon-Smith

Sorry to hear.Prayers sent. R.I.P.