Leslie Ollie

Leslie Ollie, 90, of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away on June 2, 2013, at Summerlin Hospital. He was born on September 21, 1922 as the second of six children born to the union of Daniel Ollie and Alice Logan. Leslie attended Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama and entered into the pre-med curriculum at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College in Normal, Alabama upon graduation. He was unable to complete his degree as he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served his country as a medic and received an honorable discharge in 1946. Still desiring to complete his education, he worked in the Cadillac automotive plant in Detroit, Michigan, taking care of his family and attending classes at Wayne State University and receiving a Bachelor’s degree. With a strong thirst for knowledge, he taught Special Education in the Ypsilanti (Michigan) School System and entered the master’s program at the University of Michigan. Upon completion of the master’s program degree, he was granted a Doctoral internship from the University of Michigan through the Mott Foundation. Leslie received his Doctor of Philosophy Education from the University of Michigan in 1974. In 1968, Leslie took the position as Director of the West Center campus at Chicago State University. During his 30-year career at Chicago State University, he held various administrative positions, full professorship and received many achievement awards. Upon retirement in 1988, he relocated to Las Vegas to escape the cold of the Midwest. Leslie was preceded in death by his son Duane Ollie and his sister Ora Horton. He leaves to cherish his memory a daughter Karen Elliott; two grandchildren LaVerne Caples and Thomas (Sharita) Muhammad; seven great-grandchildren Stefan Caples, Janae Caples, Jonathan Muhammad, Kharin Muhammad, Aaliyah Muhammad, Thomas Muhammad Jr., Saleemah Muhammad; brother James (Barbara) Ollie; sisters Dorothy James, Juanita Sledge, Alice Foster; and a host of nephews, nieces, family and friends. Arrangements under the direction of Palm Eastern Mortuary, Las Vegas, NV.