Rev. Leslie M. Riherd

Rev. Leslie M. Riherd, Sr., 87, of Owensboro, Ky. died Thursday, March 11 at Owensboro Medical Center. Riherd was a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and his favorite Bible verse was Job 19:25, "I know that my redeemer liveth." Born in Park City, Ky., Riherd was the son of the late Clitus B. and Annie Martin Riherd. He was a graduate of Cave City High School in 1934 and Georgetown College in 1937. His postgraduate education was at Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary 1937-1940.

Riherd served as a pastor in Arkansas over 50 years and then went on to pastor in Kentucky. Altogether, he held revivals, preached or served as a pastor for well over 130 churches. He was pastor of First Baptist Church in Lepanto from 1938-1953. While there, he started six new mission churches in the surrounding area and led volunteer crews in a building program for each church during this time. Those churches include Red Oak Baptist Church (1948), West Ridge Baptist Church, Spear Lake Baptist Church (1948), and Rivervale Baptist Church (1953) where over 130 people were baptized in the St. Francis River following a revival. He also supervised the construction of the Lepanto school gymnasium using German prisoner of war labor.

Riherd was pastor of First Baptist Church in Newport from 1964-1981, and there led in the construction of a new education building.

After his first retirement in 1981, he served as an interim pastor at Northside Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church. He was pastor of Rosie Baptist Church in Rosie from 1982-1987 where he guided renovation and the addition of a fellowship hall.

In 1989, he retired to Owensboro but soon was accepting invitations to supply preach for short-term absences and as interim pastor for numerous churches in Daviess and surrounding counties. Interim pastorates included Newman Baptist Church, Curdsville Baptist, Immanuel Baptist, Crabtree Avenue Baptist, South Hampton Baptist, New Panther Creek Baptist, Mt. Vernon Baptist and Audubon Baptist. He also supplied for more than 20 churches in the area.

He served seven years on the Board of Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. where he was chairman of the board for one term and led the construction of a 1200 bed addition to the hospital in the 1950's. He served on the Board of the Arkansas Baptist Convention and it's executive board. He was also a charter member of the Southern Baptist College, now Williams Baptist College, a member of the Arkansas State University committee, and president of the Arkansas Baptist Pastors Conference. He served on the Board of the Arkansas Baptist Hospital in Newport and was a member of Rotary International. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Owensboro, Ky. and the Beacon Sunday school where he taught occasionally.

He married Cleo K. Riherd May 12, 1940. They celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2000 just prior to her death. Survivors include his three children: Dr. Leslie M. Riherd, Jr. and his wife Mary Alice Riherd of Owensboro; Anne Riherd Runion and her husband Dr. Donald F. Runion, Jr. of Richmond, Va.; and Robert L. Riherd and his wife Gail Riherd of Owensboro. Riherd was survived by his sister, Elizabeth R. Dimbleby of Los Gratos, Calif. and his brother James E. Riherd of Thomasville, Ga. Grandchildren include Tamara Riherd Horton of Macon, Ga.; John M. Riherd of Valpariso, Ind.; Jacob F. Riherd of Virginia Beach, Va.; Daniel B. Riherd of Birmingham, Ala.; Jason N. Runion of Richmond, Va.; David F. Runion of Richmond, Va.; Carissa Dockery of Owensboro, Ky. and Shawn Rodriguez of Owensboro, Ky. Great-grandchildren are Claire E. Horton, Anna V. Horton, Noah A. Horton and Samantha s. Riherd.

Riherd was preceded in death by three brothers: William T. Riherd, Cecil Riherd and Maurice Riherd; and one sister: Marie Riherd Tucker.

Services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, March 15 at First Baptist Church in Owensboro, Ky. Burial followed at Elmwood Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Leslie M. and Cleo K. Riherd Scholarship at Georgetown College, 400 E. College St., Georgetown, Ky. 40234.