Leon Sucht — whose 38-year banking career included a stretch as manager of the Manteca Bank of America branch — is being inducted into the Manteca Hall of Fame.
The dinner and induction ceremonies are taking place Saturday, May 19, at the Manteca Senior Center, 295 Cherry Lane. Tickets are $65 apiece and are available through the Manteca Boys & Girls Club, 545 W. Alameda St., or by calling 239.5437.
Other inductees are Joyce Gatto, art; Gary DeiRossi, education; Dr. Jerry Weiner, healthcare; Charleen Carroll, special recognition; Everett Rankins, agriculture; Mike Moore, community service; Peggy Thompson Spears, community service; Connie Lum, at-large; and Michael Dean Moore, at-large.
Sucht is being inducted for business.
His banking career included serving as manager and vice president of BofA branches in Bakersfield, Tulare, El Centro, Hanford, Los Banos and Manteca. He also served as corporate banking officer in the Modesto branch and was manager of the Mineral King National Bank in Hanford. He also served two years as the interim director of the Kings County Economic Development Corporation.
Sucht initially resided in Manteca from 1978 to 1986 before moving back in 2002 when he retired.
His entire working career includes a long list of community endeavors in the communities where he worked.
In Manteca his community service list includes:
uThe Manteca Historical Society from 2003 to the present serving as a board member, president, and executive committee member.
uCharter member of Manteca Morning Rotary from 1981 to 1986.
uManteca Rotary from 1978 to 1981 and 2002 to the present. He has been involved with Rotary for 48 years.
uEast Union Cemetery board member and treasurer from 2007 to 2011.
uHe helped organize the Friends of the East Union Cemetery Association.
uManteca Chamber of Commerce Ag Tour chairman for three years and served as vice president of the organization in 19880-1981.
uCalifornia Methodist Endowment Board chairperson and auditor.
uManteca Mural Society member from 2003 to present including serving as membership chairman.
uSt. Paul’s Unified Methodist Church involvement includes serving as chairperson of the Finance and Endowment Board, chairperson of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, president of United Methodist Men’s Group, Doorkeepers Service Group, and choir member.
Sucht was born in 1935 in the small western Kansas town of Rozell that had a population of 220. He graduated from high school in 1953 after serving as class president, on the student council, and as president of the county 4-H council.
Sucht graduated from Kansas State University in 1957 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science. He had four years of ROTC training and received his commission as 2nd lieutenant in the Army upon graduation.
He served six months in the Army and then was in the Army Reserves for 7½ years ending in 1965 as the Battalion Signal officer in Fresno where he attained the rank of captain.
After returning from Fort Bliss he married his college sweetheart Liz Grimble in December of 1958. She completed her registered nurse degree from Kansas University medical Center/School. They headed to Kansas State University where he completed his Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics in 1960 while she worked at the college health center.
Bank of America was recruiting graduates with agricultural backgrounds to work in California. Sucht accepted a job with the bank in 1960.
They have been married 59 years and have two adult daughters and an adult son.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com