Leonard & Audrey Dearing

Leonard & Audrey Dearing

Written by Kathy Lesko Saturday, 07 October 2006

When Audrey and Leonard Dearing moved from Austin to Pflugerville in 1959, they specifically selected 90 acres of land that fell within Pflugerville Independent School District boundaries.

“We had called the Texas Education Agency and asked where the best rural school district was in Central Texas,” Audrey says. “Pflugerville was highly recommended, so that was where we settled with our two children.”

A third sibling soon joined the family, and the Dearings settled into a life that included both Audrey and Leonard working full-time outside the home. Despite their rural residence, the Dearings always made sure their children had access to services that would enhance their educational experiences.

They had depended on the regional bookmobile to bring the world of reading to their children’s doorstep, so when the service was discontinued in 1981, Audrey found herself part of a group of Pflugerville mothers who viewed it as a call to action.

The Friends of Pflugerville Community Library was formed, with the mission to create a library for the city. A small 20-foot building on Railroad Ave. was donated rent-free to the Friends by a local bank for use as a temporary library while funds were being raised for a permanent location.

Fundraisers were held as the Friends worked with the state to qualify for matching funding for books. Additional monies were raised through a thrift shop that was located on Pecan St. Audrey also qualified the group’s efforts to receive matching grants from her employer, Tracor.

Leonard was a steadfast fixture at the library fundraisers. He manned the smoker and grills at barbecues, hauled boxes and tables around Pflugerville for book and bake sales, and even secured the services of a hot-air balloonist to provide fundraising rides for supporters.

“My most important job was probably praying for good weather since almost all of the fundraisers were held outside,” Leonard says with a smile.

The Friends of Pflugerville Community Library eventually purchased a plot of land on Tenth Street for about $42,000. In 1992 the library, which was then located on Third Street, gave it to the city of Pflugerville, with the condition that the city create a bond to fund a new library. In 1997, the land was deeded over to the city and the grand opening ceremony in 1999 for a new library was even attended by the then-Governor’s wife, Laura Bush. The Friends’ greatest accomplishment wasn’t the construction of the new library, Audrey recalls. “The city agreed to provide free library services for all residents, whether they lived inside the city proper or in the rural areas,” she says. “There was a time that you had to pay for your library card if you didn’t live within city limits. I think we are all most proud of the fact that we enabled children from around the area to benefit from such a vital service.”

Community Involvement

Leonard served on the Board of the Pflugerville Independent School District for six years, serving as president for one term. He was on the board of the Manville Water Supply Corporation, including serving as president, and is part of the team responsible for helping the company become debt-free.

For 17 years, Audrey served as a 4-H leader. “When my third child graduated from the organization, I did too,” she recalls. She was honored for her contributions with the Silver Spur Award, the highest recognition bestowed on individuals by the organization. In 1993, she was one of the Friends of the Pflugerville Community Library who received the Citizen of the Year award from the Greater Pflugerville Chamber of Commerce.

Editor’s Note: The library’s twice- a -year book sale will be the first weekend in November. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, the funds raised by the sale help the Friends help the library. Book donations may be dropped off at the library at 102 10th St.

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