Leonard Henry Limmer Jr.'s Obituary
We've heard you're never supposed to meet your hero, well we met ours.
Leonard (Len) Henry Limmer, Jr., 88 years of a full life, passed away at his home on Wednesday December 20th, 2023, at 9:32am. Len was in the company of his beautiful bride of 63 years (January 2024 would have been 64 years) and oldest daughter. Len entered this world in Ft. Worth, Texas on October 20th, 1935, at 5:50pm with the assistance of his father and mother, Leonard Limmer and Hilda Johnson. Len, middle child between Leona and John, grew up and matured fast starting his first paying job at age 5 working the "Grease Route." Basically, every Saturday morning with a red wagon and large bucket, he collected kitchen grease for a 6-block radius and then sold that to the local grocer for a penny a pound. Due to circumstances beyond Len, he grew up in numerous areas in Dallas & Ft. Worth and eventually landed in Irving, Texas. During all of these years Len would spend cherished summers working on Uncle Pryor and Aunt Georgia's farm in Hurst, Texas. The work day, quoting Uncle Pryor, was described as being "From Can to Can't." Len loved every part of it especially a jet black "cutting horse" named Princess. Len graduated from Irving H.S. in 1954 and became a dispatcher for the Irving Police Department. On Len's 21st birthday he was commissioned as an Irving Police Officer and was assigned to patrol and then to motors unit riding a kickstart Harley.
Best decision Len ever made! 1958:
Len, being 1-A Draft classified, decided that instead of waiting for the draft he would volunteer for the draft and get in the front of the line. Len was stationed as a Military Policeman at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. One day in the chow line he "spotted her." PFC Esther Aida (Marty) Martinez of San Salvador, El Salvador. Even after being stood up by Marty on a blind date, Len still believed he was going to marry her before he got out of the Army. A year of dating and he married the beautiful young lady on January 16th, 1960, three days before he was Honorably Discharged. Len and Marty then moved to Mesquite, Texas where Len joined the Mesquite Police Department in 1960. This started many "firsts". Len became Chief of Mesquite PD at age 27 (youngest in the state), and the first chief in Texas to hire a female police officer, get air condition police cars, and start a take home marked patrol car program, which continues to this day. Mesquite was a great opportunity to learn how to introduce, implement and expand different concepts into policing. During Len and Marty's Mesquite Police days, they welcomed two daughters, Vickie and Tracy, and one son, Chris.
2nd best decision Len ever made! 1971:
Len, being born in Ft. Worth and raised in Dallas was perfect for the new role of the Director of Public Safety for the yet to be built DFW International Airport. Len was hired and introduced a cross trained Police/Fire/EMS concept. In 6 months, he was to plan, organize, staff, equip and train the new DFW DPS to 300 strong. Everything was non-stop and Len was blessed with the best officers, firefighters, and EMT's, who all shared the same vision. Through hijackings and plane crashes Len always led from the front. Len's motto was "Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of the way" and DFW DPS proved countless times that their people, training, and equipment were the best of the best. Always humble and never boasting, Len's greatest achievement to ever be a part of, other than his family, was DFW DPS. Len retired from DFW DPS in 1998 but never fully recovered from his love for the airport and airport staff, both commissioned and civilian. Len's love of our great nation and duty to public safety continued after his initial 40+ years. The terrorism attack of 9/11 occurred, and Len's phone began ringing. Len was requested and joined an Israeli colleague to review Boston-Logan Airport's master security program, since 3 of the hijacked aircrafts had departed Logan. Quickly following the Boston-Logan assignment, Len joined the Boeing Company as a Senior Security Consultant. Len and Marty continued following their dreams and by now were residing on the lake front property in Oak Point, Texas (purchased over 40 years ago) where they built an absolute Oasis for his family and friends. He loved sharing the home with family and friends of all ages. Len's dream was for this to continue long after he was gone and leave no doubt that it will. Len was truly unique and way ahead of his time or more than likely, the perfect man for his time. He was admired by many and will be missed by many more.
Len is a 1962 graduate of the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville, Kentucky. 1968 graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Life member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), served as IACP Police Tactical Committee and IACP Committee on Terrorism. Member and chairman of the Airports Council International's North American and World Standing Security Committees. Advisor to Aviation Security Panel of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the civilian aviation branch of the United Nations. Member of the National Academy of Sciences - Committee on Assessment of Security Technologies for Transportation. 2003 recipient of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Airports Council International of Geneva, Switzerland.
Len is preceded in death by his parents Leonard and Hilda, sister Leona and brother John. He is survived by his beautiful bride Marty, daughter Vickie (Steve), daughter Tracy (Matt) and son Chris (Diana), and grandchildren Tyler, Devon, Madison, Cortney and Sydney.
Len will be missed so much; however, his life is celebrated every day.
When a hero falls, an Angel rises.
In lieu of flowers, please make a small donation to the Peace Officers Angel Foundation.
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