Mr. Speaker, I rise today with immense gratitude for Bishop Preston D.H. Leonard, who inspires us all through his lifetime of public service deeply rooted in his faith. For more than 60 years, he has served as pastor at Christ Gospel Church of St. Petersburg! Bishop Leonard is the only living pastor in the church’s history and has the longest tenure of any pastor in the St. Petersburg area. He serves as the Presiding Bishop of Christ Kingdom International Fellowship and the International Bishop of the Christ Gospel Churches of Jamaica Apostolic, Haiti, and Ghana, Africa.

Bishop Leonard was born in the town of Lloyd, located in North Florida to Titus and Vannie (Walker) and he is the sixth of seven children. His commitment to his faith started early – at age 10 he became a member of the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Monticello, Florida.

Bishop Leonard was baptized in 1954 and ordained later that year. Also in 1954, Bishop Leonard married the love of his life, the former Virginia Mosley. Together they share their seven children, 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. 

Bishop Leonard and his family moved to St. Petersburg in 1957 and since then, he has been fiercely committed to his service to both God and our community across Tampa Bay through a broad range of experiences. For more than 40 years, he hosted a radio ministry broadcasted by The New 1590 WRXB, a longtime voice in the St. Petersburg African American community. He is a past president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA) and previously served on the Bi-Racial Advisory Committee of the Pinellas County School Board, the State Screening for Regulatory Committee, Ombudsmen Committee of the State Nursing Home, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, and the Area Agency of Aging. In 1997, he was recognized as Minister of the Year. Today, Bishop Leonard serves as a charter member of the St. Petersburg Community Alliance as well as on the Board of Directors of the IMA Human Services and the St. Petersburg Interfaith Alliance. 

Bishop Leonard received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from International University. Before this he attended Florida A&M University, Jack Hyles Pastoral School, and Clyde Narramore Counseling School. He was also a member of the US Navy CORPS in Bainbridge, Maryland.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Tampa Bay community, I am honored to recognize Bishop Preston D.H. Leonard for his lifelong dedication to service above self as well as his contribution to Tampa Bay’s own African American history. Through his commitment to and celebration of his faith and his service to the community, Bishop Leonard is a representation of the best that Florida has to offer and his living legacy serves as an example to all.