William (Wil) Robert Leacox passed away February 1 in Stockton, California.  He was born March 31, 1947, in Shenandoah, Iowa to parents John and Betty Leacox.

In his own words, "he was but a drummer".   Wil began playing drums around age 5.  Influenced by his father John, his uncle Brammer, and his cousin Paul.  He played percussion in the Shenandoah school band program from the 4 ^th grade through high school.  He was an excellent pianist as well.

Wil's first pop band was The Echos in early 60's while in junior high.  Members were classmates, Jim Hutson, guitar, Steve Sawyer, piano, and Gary Wright, saxophone.

Next came The (Jolly) Green Giants in the mid 60's with Jim Hutson and 2 other high schoolers from Gravity, Iowa.  This band has been inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

After graduating from Shenandoah Community High School in 1965, Wil moved to Topeka, Kansas to attend Washburn University as a piano major and earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1970.  While in Topeka he played with several rock bands including The Jerms, and later the Young Raiders.  Both bands traveled the Midwest in school buses that Wil's father remodeled into sleeper band busses.  Both bands are enshrined in multiple state Rock and Roll Hall of Fames including Kansas, Iowa and South Dakota.

After a year of playing with several bands out of Lawrence, KS, Wil decided to travel west to test the waters.  His first stop was Las Vegas where he performed with a show band for a short time before moving on to North Hollywood, California in 1971.  Wil found gigs playing in various club bands around LA and worked as a free-lance recording musician as well.  In 1972, he was the drummer for a USO Tour group to Vietnam that included former Shenandoah resident Joe Bellamy and Olympic pole vaulter John Pennell.  They toured the war zones playing for the troops.

In 1973, Wil auditioned for and landed the drum gig with the rock and roll band America.  He was America's drummer for the next 41 years retiring in 2014.  Wil was a traveling musician for most of his adult life. The early years traveling the Midwest playing for dances in clubs, ballrooms, fairs, and other events.

The years with America enabled him to travel around the globe performing in more than 150 countries. He played at Radio City, Carnegie Hall, the Tonight Show, the David Letterman Show and countless other venues both large and small . He has 7 Gold Records and several Platinum.  America recorded multiple albums produced by Sir George Martin.   He had an amazing circle of family, friends, and fans everywhere he performed and was well respected by his peers.  His spent his last years in Stockton, where he had lived since 2000 enjoying the music scene there with friends.

Wil was a long-time member of The American Federation of Musicians. He had endorsements with the Ludwig Drum Company, Fic Virth drumsticks and Sabian cymbals.  He was an avid reader and enjoyed reading about military history, especially World War II. A life well lived.  RIP Wil!

Preceded in death by his parents John and Betty.  Survived by brother Jim and his wife Karin of Overland Park, Kansas, nephews John (Adrianne) of Overland Park and Marc (Shana) of Lenexa, Kansas.  And sister Janie and her husband Chris of Shenandoah, Iowa, nieces Christin Blume (Chris) Bode and Haddie of Sycamore, Illinois and Marcia Casteel (Justin) Charlee and Chloe of Anita, Iowa.

The family suggests honoring Wil with a memorial contribution to one of the organizations listed below:

1. Leacox Family Music Education Scholarship, Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation, 1729 MacVicar Avenue, Topeka, KS 66604. https://wualumni.org/givenow

2. The Greater Shenandoah Historical Society ( Includes artifacts of local artists who went on to national fame including the Everly Brothers, Blackwood Brothers, Charlie Haden, Bill Leacox, and Al Sloey, singer and bass player for the Riders of Purple Sage band ), 800 W Sheridan Ave Shenandoah, Iowa 51601. https://shenandoahhistoricalsociety.org