Leslie N. "Dukie" Speck - Osceola

Wednesday, August 25, 2004

Leslie N. "Dukie" Speck, of Osceola, died Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2004, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Blytheville.

He was born Nov. 12, 1913, son of C.C. and Elizabeth W. Speck of Frenchman's Bayou. He lived his life proudly as an Arkansas coach, teacher, and school administrator. "Dukie" was also a proud ASU Alumni and was head coach for them at age 22. He was a 4-sport letterman at ASU and in their Hall of Fame. He served his country during World War II in the Navy. While serving as a representative from Mississippi County to the Arkansas legislature, he introduced the bill to build war Memorial stadium in Little Rock and was on the first Stadium Commission. His long teaching career led him to Hoxie, Jonesboro, Osceola, Cherry Valley, Holly Grove, Gosnell, and serving as Manila superintendent. He was married for 61 years to Dorothy M. Speck.

He is survived by his two children, Don Speck and his wife, Karen, of Helena, and Dale Reid and her husband, Henry, of Houston, Texas: four grandchildren, Jay Reid, Jeremy Speck, Lesley Speck Johnson, and Emily Speck; three sisters, Anne Speck of Blytheville, Gladys Hyatt of Osceola, and Jean Muncy of Garland, Texas; a brother, O.W. Speck of Frenchman's Bayou; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

The funeral was held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church in Osceola. Burial was in Bassett Cemetery with Roller-Swift Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

The family requests anyone wishing to leave a lasting memorial consider the First United Methodist Church in Osceola or First United Methodist Church in Blytheville.