Patriots Point Distinguished Volunteer 2022
Leonard Singleton SHC (Ship Serviceman Chief) has been a Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum volunteer since September 2016. Typically, he has served as the USS Laffey Tour Guide several days a week. With dedication, he has conducted hundreds of tours aboard the USS Laffey DD 724.
Leonard is a Retired Navy Chief Petty Officer, Ship Service Man having stumbled into that position when a retiring Ships Cobbler took him under his wing and trained him as a cobbler, eventually affording him a Ships Serviceman Rating. He served 23 years on various ships including Cruisers and Destroyers. After retiring, Leonard acquired a Pepperidge Farms Bread route in Mt Pleasant and he and his wife were foster parents to 21 children until her health no longer supported it. Leonard became a widower in 2015 and joined Patriots Point in 2016.
His Volunteer Duty Station is on the Laffey, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for 5 hours each day. Year to date Leonard has logged over 560 hours on the Laffey. He is an avid student of and a tour guide for the Laffey, and is a member of the USS Laffey Association. There is even a photo of Leonard with his parents in the USS Laffey Ships Store. He is being held as a baby by his parents, his father in his WWII Navy Uniform.
Leonard is a very active volunteer and participates in many special events, particularly involving the Laffey. He is wonderful with children, telling stories and making them feel special. Leonard takes great pride and goes great lengths in providing guests with specials tours and insight into life aboard ship. He is diligent about his attendance and schedules. He also participated in the Veterans History Project providing an interview of his career to be archived in the Library of Congress for all to see for generations to come.