Leonard Frederick Dirks Sr. was born on October 21, 1918, in Akron, Summit County, Ohio. He was the son of Henry Dierks and Ethel Clair Bruns Dierks. He was the husband of Myrthe Morris Dirks. He attended schools in Akron and was a graduate of the University of Nebraska with a degree in business administration. He was a former president of the Paris Independent School District board and a former president of Paris Golf and Country Club. He had served on the industrial committee of the Chamber of Commerce. He was chairman of the board of Paris Rubber Supply Inc., beginning work there in 1947.

Dirks served in the 1st Ranger Battalion, as a First Lieutenant during World War II. Dirks was promoted to Captain and was transferred to the Headquarters Company, 3rd Ranger Battalion. He was one of 50 US Army Rangers who participated with British Commando on the Dieppe raid in 1942. He received battlefield promotions and commissions. He served in the Army Reserve for 20 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1967. LtCol Dirks died on March 1, 1989, and is now buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Paris, Lamar County, Texas, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, wwiirangers.org