Leonard Winters

Leonard Winters, 96, was born in Minnesota and brought to California by his parents, Charles and Ruth Winters, as a young child, settling in the Weedpatch/Lamont area. Leonard recalls riding a horse to school. He later attended Kern County Union High School where he was the school yell leader and held the track record in the 100-yard dash for many years. Winters began his seventy years as a professional investigator first with the Internal Revenue Service in Reno, Nevada. While in Reno Winters developed a life-long relationship with Harold Smith, the founder of Harold's Club casinos. He was one of the original members of the Reno Masonic Lodge and retained an active membership until his death. Winters' investigation activities led him to Bakersfield, where he met up with Morris Chain - an attorney - in 1946, helping Chain run his campaign for Kern County District Attorney against Wiley Doris. When Chain lost the election Winters remained with Chain as a private investigator. That relationship lasted thirty-one years until Chain's death in 1977. During their relationship Winters aided Chain in many of the high publicity cases that Chain litigated over the years. Winters was heavily involved with Chain in the defense of country-western star Spade Cooley on charges that he had murdered his wife. Cooley was later convicted and sentenced to prison. Winters remained in close contact with Cooley. Winters was asked by more than one film producer to collaborate on a movie about Spade Cooley's life, but the project never really took off. Chain's law firm grew to include Albert Noriega, Milt Younger, Dustin Jamieson, Timothy Lemucchi, Helen Banducci, Grace Trueblood and Dorena Oliver. Winters developed personal relationships with many prominent people in the legal and law community of Kern County. He was particularly close to Chiefs of Police Horace Grayson and Jack Towle. On one occassion Chief Grayson called Morris Chain to report that he received information that Chain's house on 21st Street was being burglarized. Chain and Winters went to investigate and the thieves pulled guns on Chain and Winters and tied them up and left them at the house. They were later rescued by the police. One of Winters' closest friends was Police Detective Butch Milligan, who was instrumental in capturing the killers of the police officer in the Onion Field case. Winters was close friends with many of the judges in Kern County during his days: Frank Noriega; John Jelletich; Doyle Miller, P.R. Barton; Gerry Davis. He was widely known and admired in the Kern County legal community. Many commented that Winters and Chain were "joined at the hip" and were frequently found together at their favorite spots: Woolgrower's; Luigi's; Arizona Cafe; Office Bar. Winters was always fashionably dressed and always drove a new car. He prided himself in always being in top physical condition and worked out daily. Winters and Jack LaLanne lived as young boys in the Weedpatch area and became life-long friends. Winters was a life-long friend of Hollis Roberts who developed one of Kern County's largest agriculture enterprises. During Winters' heyday the City and County operated much differently than today, both the County and the City being a small knit group, and personal relationships were extremely important. Winters is survived by his two nieces, Crillene Riel and her husband Bill, and Helen Rocha. Services will be conducted at Hillcrest Cemetery on Thursday, December 1, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. In keeping with Winters' request this will be a celebration of his life and friends are asked to come share their remembrances and stories of his life. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Shriner's Children's Hospital, or a charity of your own choice