Leslie M. Riherd

Rev. Leslie M. Riherd, Sr., 87, of Owensboro, a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, whose favorite Bible verse was Job 19:25, I know that my redeemer liveth, died Thursday, March 11, 2004 at Owensboro Medical Health Center. Born in Park City, Kentucky, a son of the late Clitus B. and Annie Martin Riherd, he was a graduate of Cave City High School in 1934 and Georgetown College in 1937. His postgraduate education was at Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary 1937-1940.

He served as pastor in Arkansas over 50 years and then at several churches in Kentucky after his retirement. Altogether he held revivals, preached, or served as pastor for well over 130 churches. He was pastor of First Baptist Church, Lepanto, Arkansas 1938-1953. While there he started six new mission churches in the surrounding area and led volunteer crews in a building program for each church during this time. Those churches include Red Oak Baptist Church (1943), West Ridge Baptist Church, Spear Lake Baptist Church (1948), and Rivervale Baptist Church (1953) where on one day over 130 people were baptized in the St Francis River following a revival. He also supervised the construction of the Lepanto school gymnasium using German prisoner of war labor.

He was pastor of West Baptist Church, Batesville, Arkansas, 1953-1964. There he led the construction of a three story educational addition completed in 1957 using primarily volunteer labor. He led the renovation of the sanctuary and front entrance completed in 1961.

He was pastor of First Baptist Church, Newport, Arkansas, 1964-1981, and there led in the construction of a new educational building.

After his first retirement in 1981, he served as interim pastor at Northside Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church. He was pastor of Rosie Baptist Church, Rosie, Arkansas, 1982-1987, and guided renovation and the addition of a fellowship hall.

In 1989 he retired to Owensboro but soon was accepting invitations to supply as preacher for short-term absences and as interim pastor for numerous churches in Daviess and surrounding counties. Interim pastorates included Newman Baptist, Curdsville Baptist, Immanuel Baptist, Crabtree Avenue Baptist, South Hampton Baptist, New Panther Creek Baptist, Mt. Vernon Baptist and Audubon Baptist. He also supplied for more than twenty churches in this area. He served seven years on the Board of Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, including one term as Chairman, leading in construction of the 1200 bed addition to the hospital in the early 1950s. He served on the Board of the Arkansas Baptist Convention and its Executive Board. He was a charter member of the Southern Baptist College (now Williams Baptist College), a member of the Arkansas State University committee, and served as president of the Arkansas Baptist Pastors Conference. He served on the Board of the Arkansas Baptist Hospital, Newport Hospital, and was a past member of Rotary International. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Owensboro and the Beacon Sunday school class where he has taught occasionally.

He married Cleo K. Riherd May 12, 1940. They celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2000 just prior to her death. Survivors include his three children; Dr. Leslie M Riherd, Jr.and his wife Mary Alice Riherd of Owensboro; Anne Riherd Runion and her husband Dr. Donald F.Runion, Jr. of Richmond, Virginia; and Robert L. Riherd and his wife Gail Riherd of Owensboro; a sister Elizabeth R. Dimbleby of Los Gatos, California, and a brother James E. Riherd of Thomasville, Georgia. Grandchildren include Tamara Riherd Horton of Macon, Georgia; John M. Riherd of Valpariso, Indiana; Jacob F. Riherd of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Daniel M. Riherd of Birmingham, Alabama, Jason N Runion and David F. Runion of Richmond Virginia, and Carissa Dockery and Shawn Rodriguez of Owensboro. Great grandchildren are Claire E. Horton, Anna V. Horton, Noah A. Horton, and Samantha S. Riherd. Three brothers, William T. Riherd, Cecil Riherd, and Maurice Riherd, and a sister, Marie Riherd Tucker preceded him in death.

Services are at 10 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Glenn Funeral Home. Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Leslie M. and Cleo K. Riherd Scholarship at Georgetown College, 400 East College St., Georgetown Kentucky, 40324, or the building fund of First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 904, Owensboro, Ky. 42302.