On October 28, 2021, Sam O. Leake, Jr. (Beta Xi–Oklahoma State ’61) was inducted into the Oklahoma State University Fraternity and Sorority Hall of Fame. The ceremony, which was held during Homecoming week, included the induction of the 2020 and 2021 classes and was attended by Sam’s wife Lynn, Executive Director Larry Stanton Wiese, Assistant Executive Director for Alumni Affairs Brent Fellows, Coordinator of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs Casey Domnick, and members of Beta Xi Chapter.
Established in 2010 to celebrate the Greek Centennial at OSU, the Hall of Fame recognize the contributions of alumni who have made outstanding contributions to their organizations, OSU, their professions, and society.
“The fraternity/sorority experience has been a thriving part of campus life at OSU for over a hundred years because of the dedication and passion of our alumni,” said Dr. Johnny Robinson, director of fraternity and sorority affairs. “Due to the pandemic, we were unable to honor our 2020 class but look forward to celebrating their accomplishments and commitment to OSU this fall along with our 2021 inductees.”
The 2021 inductees included:
- Burns Hargis, Sigma Nu Fraternity
- Debby Strickland, Gamma Phi Beta Sorority
- Sam Leake, Kappa Alpha Order
- Kyle Lowell, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
- Leon J. “T-Bone” McDonald (posthumous), Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity
- Marian Lowry (posthumous), Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority
Sam was initiated at Beta Xi Chapter, Oklahoma State University, on March 18, 1961. He served one year as Number VI (treasurer) for a 60 man house paying full house bills—room, board, and social fee. He was also song leader one semester as the chapter serenaded the sororities many times throughout the year.
Sam received a B.S. in Business Management at OSU in 1964, and then an MBA at Oklahoma City University 1967. Before graduating, he joined the 4155th USAR School in the U.S. Army Reserves in December of 1963, where he served on staff. After six months of active duty training at Fort Polk Louisiana, he attended monthly reserve meetings and two-week summer camps for six years. He achieved the rank of Specialist E-5.
Sam married Lynn Cannon on March 18, 1967. A KA brother introduced them when Sam was in graduate school and she was an art education student at Oklahoma City University. They have one child, Elizabeth Leake, and one grandchild, James Lyman Pickelsimer.
Before starting his business, Sam worked in the corporate world for 20 years. Through working for Ford Motor Company, Mead Johnson Pharmaceutical, Kerr-McGee Corporation and Allied Materials Corporation, he gained much experience before starting his company, Leamark Company, in 1984. Leamark markets process oils and lubricating oils on a national basis to manufacturing concerns and lubricant blenders and marketers. The central office is located in Edmond, Oklahoma.
The family lived and worked in Oklahoma until moving to the beautiful and historic coastal town of Wilmington, North Carolina in 2004. Sam is also president of Beachwalk Design, Inc., a family-owned retail furniture and design company that he and Lynn started in 2006 in Wilmington. Lynn holds a master’s degree in interior design manages the day-to-day operation. Their daughter, Elizabeth, is the administrative manager of the business.
Sam likes to golf, fish, and read non-fiction. He and Lynn enjoy traveling to Santa Fe, New Mexico, the North Carolina mountains, and Myrtle Beach. Annually, he also makes several trips back to Oklahoma under the pretense of business and manages to see his KA brothers and other old friends.
Sam has a long history and record of service to Kappa Alpha Order. He was involved in the re-activation effort of the Beta Xi chapter in 1991 and served on the AAC for three years after the chapter was established. He was then elected as the Howard P. Locke Province Commander in 1994 where he served for eight years. He was elected to the Executive Council in February of 2002 to replace Julian Foy who had resigned from the council due to health reasons and has served on the council since that time.
Sam has received the following awards and recognitions:
- Member of the Locke, Mikell, and Chiles Courts of Honor
- Recipient of the Knight Commander’s Accolade
- Steward of the Order
- Member of the Military Division
