Reverend
Leon L. Troy was born in Cleveland, Ohio and attended schools in Toledo,
graduating from Scott High School. He
received his B.A. degree from the University of Toledo, his B.D. from Oberlin
Graduate School of Theology and his M.D. from Vanderbilt University, Nashville,
Tennessee. He has done studies at the
San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Francisco, California. He has also received an Honorary Degree of
Doctor of Humane Letters from Ohio Dominican College and the recipient of the
1997 Temple Israel Humanitarian of the Year Award. Rev. Troy has held four pastorates in the
State of Ohio. The First Baptist Church,
in Oxford, Ohio; the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Sandusky, Ohio; the Second Baptist
Church, in Warren, Ohio and the historical Second Baptist Church, in Columbus,
Ohio, celebrating 171 years of Christian Service. He has 50 years in ministry and 40 years of
pastoring.
While in Sandusky, he instituted a Head Start Program,
as a result of this program, ten other Head Start Programs were developed
throughout the city and the country by other agencies.
Land was purchased for the erection of a new church, a
new parsonage was also erected on the site.
The church membership experienced great growth. He pastored Ebenezer Baptist Church for seven
years.
In Warren, Ohio, where he pastored eleven years,
approximately four acres of land was purchased around the church, the old
Second Baptist Church building was purchased from the city of Warren for
$1.00. The facility is now located on
the present site of the Second Baptist Church; it is also one of the historical
sites in the city.
A. While in Warren
he was elected President of the Ohio Baptist General Convention at its 74th
Annual Conference, the youngest person to be elected President of this
convention of 350 churches, with over 100,000 members. He was also a teaching instructor in the
State work.
B.
By virtue of
being President of the State Convention, he became one of the Vice-Presidents
of the National Baptist Convention, Inc., which has a membership of over
6,000,000.
C.
He was a delegate
to Baptist World Alliance in Tokyo, Japan, in 1970. Following the meeting Pastor and Mrs. Troy
shared in a World Tour sponsored by the Second Baptist Church in Warren, Ohio.
D.
In 1975, he was a
delegate to the Baptist World Alliance in Stockholm, Sweden, representing the
Ohio Baptist General Association. Mrs.
Troy also accompanied him on this trip.
E.
He presented a
paper on the Negro Church to the Southern Baptist Convention Missionary Society
at their annual session in Glorita, New Mexico.
As a result of this session, the book entitled, The Black Christian
Experience was published; Rev. Troy was one of the contributors.
F.
Instituted a
Pre-School Center at the Second Baptist Church in Warren for children three to
six years of age. He had a faculty of
ten persons. This program was designed
to prepare children in readiness for school.
G.
He served as the
first Black member of the Warren Board of Education, serving one term as
President.
H.
He served as a
Trustee of the Ohio Baptist Convention of the American Baptist Convention, also
served on the Personnel Committee.
I.
He was
Co-chairman of the “Operation Shoe Leather Committee," for the Warren Area
Church. This committee spearheaded the
project which supplies shoes for needy children.
J.
In 1972, he was
presented a Civic Award by the Warren Area Jaycees for outstanding achievement
through loyal, faithful and unselfish efforts, resulting in lasting
contributions to the community.
K.
He was given the
Governor’s Award in 1974 for Community Actions by the former Governor, John L.
Gilligan
L.
Since August 14,
1975, he has been Pastor of the historical Second Baptist Church, 186 N. 17th
Street, Columbus, Ohio 43203.
M.
In 1983, he
co-chaired the campaign for the election of Dana G. Rinehart for Mayor of the
City of Columbus, Ohio. He was appointed by Mayor Rinehart to be a Special
Assistant to the Mayor on Community Affairs.
In this capacity he related to the Mayor, City Council and 21 other
related organizations.
N.
He acted as the
Mayor’s official representative, responsible for aiding and assisting those
citizens of Columbus or special interest groups, with particular concerns or
interests.
O.
Served as
official representative for the Mayor on boards and commissions, such as
Operation Feed, Metropolitan Human Services, Disaster Relief, Volunteer Corps,
Blood Mobile Committee and other community affairs.
P.
Acted as
representative for the Mayor in a variety of contacts with business and
industry, administrative officials, service organizations and the general
public.
Q.
Inducted into the
Franklin County Senior Citizens Hall of Fame (Rev. & Mrs. Leon Troy, Sr.),
May 2007
R.
Democracy in Action Award
Some of Rev. Troy’s Accomplishments at Second Baptist
Church Columbus, Ohio:
S.
Led the
congregation in the building of a Million Dollar Educational Wing.
T.
Led the
congregation in establishing the Second Baptist Housing Corporation. The congregation received a Section 202 HUD
Project Grant of $1,750,000 to erect a 45 unit housing complex for the elderly.
U.
The largest buyer
of property within a three-block area of the Second Baptist Church (29
parcels).
V.
Instituted with
New Salem Baptist Church, “Operation Potato”.
Which, provided more than 475,000 pounds of potatoes to the needy.
W.
Pastor Troy was a
recipient of the United Negro College Fund’s Distinguished Service Award. Rev. Troy has dedicated twenty-five years of
leadership service on behalf of the United Negro College Fund in three cities: Sandusky, Ohio; Warren, Ohio and Columbus,
Ohio. He is very proud that three of his
five sons, one niece, and one granddaughter,
are products of the United Negro College Fund Colleges.
X.
He established
the Columbus Laboratory School for students, Kindergarten through Sixth grade,
with particular stress on individualized learning with a staff of ten
persons. The school was certified and
licensed by the City of Columbus.
He has served on the following Boards and Committees:
•
The
Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance.
•
The Baptist
Pastor’s Conference.
•
The Metropolitan
Human Services Commission
•
Vice President of
Eastern Union Baptist College, Columbus, Ohio
•
Columbus
Metropolitan Area Community Action Organization
•
The Columbus
Volunteer Board
•
The Operation
Feed Board
•
Disaster Service.
•
Employment
Relations Task Force
•
Human Services in
Franklin County
•
Shelter for the
Homeless
•
Mt. Vernon Plaza
Project
•
United Negro
College Fund
•
Project Care
•
Special Assistant
to the Mayor for Community Affairs
•
The Commission
for Ethics and Values
•
Established a
Visitation Center to minister to broken families.
•
Appointed by
County Commissions to the Franklin County Children Services Board
•
American Red
Cross Board
•
Recently
appointed to the Columbus Board of Education
•
Special Ties
•
Appointed by
Governor Robert Taft to the Ethics Commission for the State of Ohio
•
Jessup w. Scott
High School Hall of Fame Aware for Outstanding Political Achievement
•
The Warren Area
Jaycees Man of the Year
•
Governor’s Award
for Community Action
•
Member of the
Warren City Board of Education
•
First President
of Board of Trumbull County’s Anti-Poverty Agency
•
Board Salutes for
Contributions to the Mental Health System
•
Certificate of
Distinction, Gen. Chairman – Centennial Celebration
•
Columbus Board of
Education, Doctor of Humane Letters, African American Man of Faith Award
•
Temple Israel,
Humanitarian of the Year, Soldier of Faith Award, Greater Columbus Habitat for
Humanity Community Builders Award
•
Southeastern
Christian Academy Tribute to Black Men, Distinguished Service Award for
Education
•
American Red
Cross Board Member
•
The Eastern Union
Bible College Chairman of the Board
•
Columbus Works
Board
•
City of Columbus
Community Relations Commission
•
Education
Committee for the Columbus Foundation
•
First African
American Fire Police Chaplin for the Columbus Division of Fire
•
Honoring Our
Elders, The Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission
Rev. Troy is married to the former Berniece Jordan (75
years). They are the proud parents of
five sons; Leon L. Jr., Keith A., Adam K., Eric J. and Jay Scott
(deceased). They have three
daughters-in-law, Brenda, Victoria and Gayle.
They also have eight grandchildren; Myeshia, Tiffane, Andre, Shanece,
Kendall, Armand, Aris, Raykale and seven great-grandchildren.