Leonard William Crooks PEORIA -

Leonard William Crooks, Sr., 61, of New Orleans, La., a Peoria native, died Sunday, April 9, 2006, at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, La. He was an attorney, loving husband and father. He was born on Dec. 12, 1944, the son of Leonard E. Crooks and Winona Stanton Crooks. He married Mary Washington on Nov. 9, 1968. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his faithful son, Leonard Jr. of New Orleans; and his brother, Joseph Gordon Crooks (and Aleshia) of Memphis, Tenn. He moved his family to New Orleans in 1977 to attend law school and resided there until Aug. 28, 2005, when he and his family evacuated to Dallas, Texas, the day before Hurricane Katrina destroyed their home. They moved to Hammond, La. in October 2005. Despite having polio when he was 5-years-old and using a wheelchair most of his life, Mr. Crooks attained great educational and professional success. He received a B.A. in 1968, an M.Ed. in 1975, both from Bradley University, and a J.D. from Loyola University School of Law. He was a teacher at several schools in the Peoria Public School District. He also served as Director of Black Studies at Bradley University. He was a practicing attorney in New Orleans for more than 20 years. He loved music and was a professional musician playing lead guitar and managing local bands in Peoria, Ill., until 1977. One of these bands, the Surviving Souls, won the Battle of the Bands Contest at the Illinois State Fair in 1968, which led to a competitive appearance at the Big Break Contest at Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Ill. The group won Best Soul Group and a recording contract with Mercury Records, under which they recorded the song 'One for Love,' which was co-authored by the deceased. As a musician, his bands served as opening acts for celebrities such as Marvin Gaye, Rufus Thomas and Patti LaBelle. In August 2005, Good N Plenty, one of the Peoria bands that Mr. Crooks managed, dedicated its reunion concert to him. Lennie was an avid sports fan. He followed both the University of Illinois and Bradley University basketball teams throughout their season and postseason play. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 17, 2006, at the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 501 Weems St., Picayune, Miss. The visitation will be held beginning at 9 a.m. until service time. Interment will be at the Picayune Eight Street Cemetery. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Home, 1011 Rosa St, Picayune, Miss. Published in the Peoria Journal Star on 4/16/2006.