Badly wounded one September night in France 1918 during World War I a German shell ripped into his body in four places. In 1919 at age 23 he entered Grinnell College. During a physical education class Paulu ran a sprint and won. The Grinnell coach suggested he come out for Track. He became a national star for the Pioneers twice winning the National Collegiate 100 and added the 220 1922. Leonard taught and coached in Cedar Rapids from 1925 until 1964. His best time was 9.6 at Drake, and won the NCAA 220 with a record-setting 21.8 Leonard ran as an amateur as much as time and finances would allow, often going against Eric Wilson. A year later, at Stagg Field in Chicago at the first NCAA meet ever, the dark horse from Grinnell won the 100 in :10. He finished third in the 220, won by Eric Wilson, the future sports information director at Iowa. Eric never beat Leonard at 100 and took only two of their five 220 duels. Leonard taught chemistry, physics and math in Oskaloosa until moving to Cedar Rapids in 1925.
