J. Leonard Shank
J. Leonard Shank graduated from Salem High School (Broad Street) in 1917. He was active in scholastic affairs serving as both secretary and treasurer of the senior class, and as president of the Athletic Association.
Next he entered Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the fall of 1917 to study engineering but, after one year, his education was interrupted by military service in World War I. When the war concluded, he was in training to be an artillery officer. Upon being discharged, Leonard returned to Salem and later joined Salem Foundry and Machine Works. There he designed and directed the manufacture and installation of elevators, milling equipment, and specialty castings for various industries.
Leonard rose to the position of president of that firm and, following retirement at age 65, embarked on a second career in furniture sales, retiring at 82 as a manufacturer representative for Henkel-Harris Furniture Company.
Always active in community affairs, he first ran for Salem Town Council in 1948, and was subsequently re-elected for five successive terms. Upon taking office, he was named Vice Mayor; a position held until other council members chose him to be Mayor in 1964. Three years later, Salem began to study the feasibility of becoming an independent city. On January 1, 1968, Salem became a city and Leonard received the distinction of becoming its first Mayor.
In his years on council, he played an important part in the community’s transition form a small county seat and college town to one of Virginia’s most respected and enterprising cities. In the course of this change, Leonard maintained a hands-on interest in many areas of capital improvements such as the building of a new civic center and was in the forefront of successful efforts to build the new Salem Public Library.
Leonard was a member of the Salem Rotary Club, Salem Post 19 of the American Legion, Taylor Lodge #23 of A.F. & A.M., and a Shriner with Kazim Temple. A faithful member of the Salem Presbyterian Church, he served as Sunday school Superintendent, Chairman of the Board of Deacons, and Ruling Elder. In 1980, he was elected Elder Emeritus.
Leonard married his high school classmate, Thelma Jeter Shank and they had two children; John M. Shank and Thelma Shank Hildebrand.
In recognition of his outstanding career achievements, John Leonard Shank was among those inducted in 1997 into the Salem Alumni Hall of Fame established by the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association.
