William Leidt Retires
Diocesan Press Service. January 7, 1964 [XVII-5]
After 41 years of service to the National Council, William E. Leidt retired Dec. 31 as Director of Publications.
When Presiding Bishop Lichtenberger told of his retirement, it was announced that a special award has been established in Mr. Leidt's honor. To be called the William E. Leidt Award for Excellence in Religious Journalism, it will be presented annually to the person who publishes the best religious writing in the secular press. Mr. Leidt will be a life-time judge.
Though he is officially retired from the Council, Mr. Leidt's separation from it will not be complete. At the request of Bishop Lichtenberger, he will write a 50-year history of the National Council, in collaboration with the Rev. Canon C. Rankin Barnes, retired secretary of the Council. The book will be published in 1967, three years prior to the 50th anniversary date.
Mr. Leidt has held the post of Director of Publications since 1939. In conjunction with that position he has, for the past two years, been on special assignment to the Anglican Congress. At the Presiding Bishop's request, he was in charge of all American-prepared materials for the Congress in Toronto, Canada, and wrote and edited a post-Congress brochure entitled "After the Congress-What?"
Mr. Leidt began his 41-year tenure with the National Council immediately after graduating from Harvard College in 1922. Beginning as assistant secretary in the Department of Missions, forerunner of the Overseas Department, he held a number of posts until named editor of "Forth" in 1940.
The 64-year-old layman, in addition to these diverse duties at the National Council, also has been an instructor in missions at the New York Training School for Deaconesses and an instructor in the School of Education of New York University.