It was also while Ed was a student at Valley that he co-organized and was the first torch run during Homecoming 1958. He also co-organized and was a major participant in the 1,285-mile torch run from Marshall to Orlando, Florida from December 18-24, 1958 to kick off the Tangerine Bowl football game where the Viking football team competed. Ed continued to plan, organize, and participate in annual MVC Torch Runs until 2014. After Ed’s retirement in 2014, the Torch Run was reorganized into the Ed Leslie Inaugural 5K Run, and continues to kick off Valley Homecoming festivities every year. Ed was an embodiment off the Viking Spirit at a young age. He learned early on as a student to love Valley thru the inspiration of the late great Pop Ferguson and Ed himself became a living legend and built a legacy for the multiple generations of students he taught. Ed began teaching at Valley in 1962 and completed his Master of Science degree from the University of Rolla in summer of 1963. In the mid to late 70’s, Ed established the baseline of the Computer Sciences degree at Valley. He was the core architect for the transition of the math department into the world of computer sciences at the beginning of the computer age. From 1979-1987, Ed left Valley to work in Dallas, Texas. It was during this time, he traveled to Alaska for a conference, where he met his wife Wendy, who was living in Alaska at the time. Ed and Wendy were married in Fairbanks in 1983 and soon moved back to Dallas for a short time. However, his heartstrings tugged him back to the Missouri Valley campus. He taught math and computer science, along with coaching football, track, and cross country over the course of his many years there. Ed served as the official scorekeeper for the men’s basketball games for more than 40 years. Ed was also an avid supporter of the Viking football team and was famous for driving his 1929 Ford Model A “Henrietta” around Gregg-Mitchell Field during football season after Viking touchdown. He also sponsored the V-Club for varsity athletes for many years in addition to his service in countless areas throughout the community of Marshall. In 1981, Ed was honored as an Outstanding Alumnus of MVC, and in 1993 he received the John McCallum Excellence in Teaching Award and the Missouri State Governor's Award for excellence in teaching. In 2000, Ed was inducted into the MVC Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2008, the Ed Leslie Lamp of Knowledge Award was established and is awarded annually to one outstanding senior scholar at MVC. There has been a steady flow of admiration and appreciation for the impact Ed made on generations of students. Many students felt Ed was responsible for their personal successes. An Endowment Scholarship in Ed’s name was recently founded by two such former students. After 44 years of service to MVC, Ed was presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2015.
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