12/19/1999
Graveside services for Leonard J. Hedrick, 83, of San Diego, Calif., who died December 19, at Villa Coronado Convalescent Center in San Diego, were held on December 31, 1998, at El Camino Cemetery in San Diego.
Leonard was born September 23, 1915, in Knoxville, the son of Sherman L. Hedrick and Margaret Van De Goor. He was a football standout in high school and won a scholarship to Iowa State when he graduated from Knoxville High School in 1935. He then US-Navy after graduation and was stationed in San Diego, Calif., where he spent the rest of his life.
He was employed at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, Calif., as a senior mechanician in the research and development shop. Although he had no science degree, he was respected for his engineering., qualities. One of the instruments he helped create is called a ' box corer' which enabled scientists to pull mud and water samples from the bottom of the ocean.
After retiring from Scripps in the 1970s, he started his own company, Ocean Instruments, a supplier and manufacturer of scientific instruments. His son, John, is president and chief executive of the San Diego company.
Leonard was a founding member of Torrey Pines Christian Church. He loved to sing and performed lead roles with the La Jolla Opera Guild in the 1960s.
He was preceded in death by his two wives, Mabel Morton Hedrick, and Dorothy Humphrey Hedrick.
He is survived by his son, John of San Diego; a half-brother, John Rasmussen of Vancouver, Wash.; two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.