STARR, LEONARD

by Leonard Starr

Entry F403 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Leonard and Mildred Starr

Leonard Starr Ranch Home July 1977

Leonard Starr came to the Sandhills in
1911 at the age of three when his parents,
Albert and Lula Starr, moved there from
Texas. They filed for a section of land under
the Kinkaid Act in Cherry County, 22 miles
northwest of Mullen. It was there that
Leonard grew up, attending rural school and
then high school in Mullen. After his gradua-
tion, he and his father started a cow herd and
accumulated additional land.

In 1950 his parents retired to a home they
built in Mullen. Leonard married Mildred
(Thomsen) in November, 1950, and they
continued ranching until 1974 when they
leased out the ranch. They built their retire-
ment home at the home ranch site and
presently reside there.

Leonard served on the School Board for
many years and was on the Mullen Hospital
Board until it was changed to the Hooker
County Hospital District. He also served on
the Board of the Nebraska Stockgrowers'
Association for a number of years.

One of Leonard's greatest interests has
been to improve life in the Sandhills. He was
instrumental in the construction of hard-
surfaced roads, which now extend to the
ranch. Another of his accomplishments is
reflected in the thousands of cedar and pine
trees he has planted as windbreaks for the
cattle and building sites. He has been hono-
red by the ASCS with the presentation of
their "Conservation Award" and the NRD's
"Tree Planting Award".