James Leard Conner

James Leard Conner of Dayton TX, passed away on September 7, 2025 after a brief illness. He was 85.

Born on January 11, 1940 in Liberty, Texas to William Ardist "Bill" Conner and Edna Goodrum Conner, Leard grew up in Dayton farming rice and working cattle with his father and brother. He graduated from Dayton High School's Class of 1958 where he excelled in athletics, competing in the State track meet, and attended Baylor University on a track scholarship. He received a BBA in 1966 from Hankamer School of Business then served in the U.S. Air Force beginning 1961 and was honorably discharged in 1967.

Before he began working in real estate, he became the Editor for the Dayton News in 1968. He was operations manager for the Klemp Corporation, General Manager for the Dayton Industrial Foundation, and Executive Manager for DayTex Industries. He served on many boards, including Liberty County Title & Abstract Co., First Bank and Trust, Liberty County Airport Commission, Liberty County Industrial Commission, Texas Industrial Commission Mission to West Germany, and the Liberty County Planning Commission.

He was appointed by Governors Briscoe and White to the Trinity River Authority Public Utility Board of Directors where he served for 13 years. As a member, he chaired several committees and was President of the Trinity River Industrial Development Corporation.

His public sector experience included Liberty County Central Appraisal Tax District Review Board, Legislative Study Committee that studied existing water laws, then drafted and recommended new water legislation for the state of Texas. He also served two terms on the Dayton City Council.

He earned another degree in 1996 from Lee College then taught Computer Technology and Real Estate at the University of Houston. He was hired after the age of 65 as a Contract Administrator with Metropolitan Transit Authority in Houston. He then served as a Mission Service Corps member for the Kansas Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists in Topeka, Kansas.

Leard loved to hunt and fish, and was often caught telling tales of a buck he shot or his fishing trip to the Chandeleur Islands with his buddies and Rudy Grigar. Being a colorful, talented character, in 1978, he was cast in Liberty's Valley Players' production of "Fiddler on the Roof." He also loved to fly and received his pilot's license when he was 15. For those who knew him, he could be spontaneous, unpredictable and temperamental, but he was also generous and compassionate and loved his family. He will be dearly missed by all. He is preceded in death by his parents, W.A. "Bill" Conner and Edna Conner, brother Curtis Conner, and sisters Judy Conner Carriere and Floy Conner Humphries.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Ellen Gill Conner of Barbers Hill, his daughters Emily Conner, Kendall Conner McCord (Matt), Abby Conner Thomas (Jason "JT"), son Andy Conner (Kelsey), and 5 grandchildren: Taylor Jensen, James & Jesse Thomas, Molly & Hannah Conner.