Roll Call Tribute

Leroy Sterling 

March 15, 1939 - August 8, 2023 

Mr. Leroy Sterling lived a life of great love, great faith and great purpose. Born to Willie and Mattie Lee (Smith) Sterling, he was a member of a large, close-knit family.

Born in Booneville, Texas, he was an honor graduate of E.A. Kemp High School. After graduation, he embarked upon a three-year tour of duty in the United States Army. Thanks to the GI Bill, he was able to begin collegiate studies at Texas Southern University. A true Renaissance man, he studied French and English-impressing his peers and professors alike. In the summer of 1963, Leroy Sterling made history by becoming the first African American undergraduate student to enroll at Texas A&M University. In the fall, he returned to TSU where he received his BA degree in French. He then went on to earn a master’s degree in French at the University of Houston and did other studies at Jacksonville State University and Massey Business College. While studying French, he was blessed to meet Miss Rose Marie Solomon, who served as a teacher’s aide. It was love at first sight. They enjoyed 41 beautiful years of marriage before her death in 2004.

He worked 17 years in sales and marketing with Dow Chemical Company. His faculty positions were at Texas Southern University, Alabama A&M University and Jarvis Christian College. His long list of service at Alabama A&M included being awarded Professor of the Year in Arts and Sciences (1997-1998), Coach of the Honda Campus All Star Challenge academic team, Chair of the AAMU National Writing Project, Vice President of the Alabama Council of Teachers of English, Director of the Honors Program, and faculty sponsor of French clubs-all reflecting his practice of going beyond the call of duty. Leroy was an accomplished writer who had many publications, he obtained numerous research grants over the years, and mentored students for decades.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday August 19, 2023 11:00A.M. Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church 310 Martin Luther King Jr., Street, Bryan, TX 77803. Visitation Services will be held on Friday, August 18, 2023 4:30P.M. until 6:30P.M. at Daniel & Son Funeral Home located at 401 W 18th Street, Bryan, TX 77803.