Many of our readers know Clarence Leising because he has been a frequent contributor to Pallet Enterprise and Recycle Record, and he wrote Pallet Head, one of the only books ever written on the pallet industry. Clarence also was a respected speaker at some pallet association meetings, consultant and supplier to the recycling industry. He recently passed away on November 13, 2016 due to complications stemming from a long fight with cancer.
As a consultant and industry supplier working for Eagle Metal and Bronco Pallet Systems, Clarence visited literally hundreds of pallet companies across the country giving his advice in solving production related problems. For years he worked in the industry as a practitioner, managing a pallet recycling company in upstate New York with his mentor Dick Burns.
Pallet Head has become a valuable tool that many pallet companies have used to train workers and improve their operations. Few people in the pallet recycling sector are better known and respected than Clarence. Hundreds of pallet companies, mostly recyclers, will gladly tell you how much they respect Clarence and how important his management suggestions have been to them.
As a professional publisher who is dedicated to the pallet industry I am happy to count Clarence as one of my closest friends in our industry. One of these days I may put together a list of the ten top pallet people who have served us. There is no doubt Clarence will be on this list. In fact he might be one of the few pallet practitioners on that list. While many good people have owned and run pallet companies, the influence of most is focused primarily on their own company. Clarence was a friend to all he came in touch with, and his willingness to share impacted people all across the country.
Clarence outlived his first wife Betty but leaves behind his two sons Shawn and Shannon and his second wife Nadine. Per his request they are not having a funeral or memorial service. Instead he is being cremated; his ashes will be spread out over a nearby river. Clarence and Nadine met about fifteen years ago. She often cooked Saturday breakfast for Clarence and Betty at a local Tennessee diner. After Betty passed away Clarence moved to Florida with his new wife Nadine.
Jerry Burney, his former boss at Eagle Metal, said, “His knowledge of the industry was exceptional, and his willingness to support and teach was unsurpassed. He knew pallet recycling better than anybody. When thinking back on Clarence, I recall the following: hard worker, good teacher and always offered good business assessments. I was in awe of the things that he could pick up on that could make a plant run more efficiently. Clarence was not a fancy man. He was down to earth. He could explain things so that they all made sense. He had a sack of tricks.”
Norm Normile, often known as Northwest Norm, was one of Clarence’s best friends. Norm said, “Clarence was anonymous to some but known to many. Clarence was a friend. He was unique as an individual, never to be replaced. He will be forever missed. His past book and another soon to be released have provided assistance to many in the industry. It is a simple and insightful order to pallet operations and management. He is taking with him his ‘million dollar smile,’ but he leaves behind more with those who were blessed to know him.”
Nadine, Clarence’s wife, said that anybody who would like to recognize Clarence can do so by supporting his favorite charity: St. Jude Children’s’ Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105. Clarence loved the children who like him struggled with cancer. St. Jude is one of the most highly recognized hospitals serving children across the United States.
