Leon Long

Leon Long, currently of Enid, OK (and longtime resident of Nampa, ID) passedaway peacefully surrounded by family in his home October 20, 2026. Born May 15, 1941 to Jesse Long and Maxine (Graham) Long of Hillsboro, OR, and continued to live in the area (North Plains, OR) until the age of four. Christmas day 1945 Leon and his family moved to a farm in Vale, OR his father had purchased. That is where Leon grew up, graduating from Vale Union High School in 1959. The teachers and coaches provided mentorship and guidance to Leon fueling his passion for teaching and athletics. Upon graduation Leon attended the College of Idaho in Caldwell, ID where he sought his undergraduate degree in education and served all four years as a student manager for the football and basketball programs and played baseball until his graduation in the spring of 1963. 

Following graduation Leon taught and coached football, basketball and baseball at Wilder High School in Wilder, ID for the next five years. While in Wilder Leon met Aulda Elaine Brummels who had come from Randolph, NE to visit her aunt and uncle, Jim and Eva Dowling. That visit continued through 60 years of marriage which was celebrated July 31, 2026.

In the fall of 1968 Leon moved to Nampa High School where he taught English, coached and served as the Athletic Director for the next thirty-one years. Twenty of those years were spent as head baseball coach where he amassed over 440 wins, two State championships, and numerous District and League titles. During this twenty-year run Leon was named District Coach of the Year six times, State Coach of the Year in 1982, and the United States Baseball Federation Coach of the Year in 1988. Leon dedicated much of his time to the development of coaches as a clinician and speaker at numerous District and State coaching clinics. Leon also believed it important to be a caretaker of athletics and the game of baseball, so his volunteer service was dedicated to that mission. Toward that end he was an active member of the Coaches Association serving thirteen years on the Coaches Board of Control, one term on the District Board of Control, and served seventeen years as the State Rules Interpreter for Baseball.

Recognized for his contributions to the game of baseball nationally, Leon served a four- year term on the National High School Rules Committee, and as Vice President of the National High School Baseball Coaches Association for five years. These professional contributions culminated in Leon’s induction in the Nampa High School Athletics Hall of Fame, and the Idaho State Activities Association Hall of Fame, both of which he considered tremendous and humbling honors.

One of Leon’s greatest joys in retirement became serving as the unofficial ambassador of the Nampa Recreation Center. When he wasn’t pounding out the miles on the track upstairs or lifting in the weight room he could be found smiling, laughing and telling stories to nearly anyone who would stop long enough to listen. Leon’s passion for running culminated in completing 86,890 lifetime miles before he passed.

Leon was preceded in death by his father Jesse Long, mother Maxine Long, and younger sister Janice Gray (Gresham, OR).

Leon is survived by his wife of sixty years, Aulda Long (Enid, OK), son Michael Long and daughter-in-law Kristina Long (Petoskey,MI), daughter Nikki (Long) Salinas (Enid, OK), niece Jill Gray (Portland, OR), and grandchildren Elizabeth Long (Troy, MI), Emily Long (Columbus, OH), Seth Salinas (Enid, OK), and Shae Salinas (Enid, OK).

May you enjoy pain free miles on your next run and revisit every inning of every game with your coaching colleagues who went before you. You always were and always will be One of One! We love and miss you Pop!

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 11:00 AM at First Presbyterian Church in Enid, OK. A separate Memorial Service will be held in the spring of 2027 in Nampa, ID at a date and time to be determined.

Charitable gifts can be given in memory of Leon Long to one of the two following organizations:

Trinity Lutheran Church, 8 S. Midland Blvd., Nampa, ID 83651

Or

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl., Memphis, TN 38105