Leon (Bill) S. Pope was born in Boise, Idaho on October 9, 1923 to Leon T. and Stella Spalding Pope and was raised on a general grain and livestock farm in Somerset, Michigan. He was active in both 4-H and FFA. During his sophomore year at Michigan State College (now Michigan State University), he enlisted and served his country as a B-24 bomber pilot. Leon was a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps stationed in England. He flew 23 missions over Germany. After the war, he graduated from Michigan State College with a degree in Animal Husbandry in 1947 and later earned his Masters and Ph.D. degrees from Oklahoma State University in animal nutrition.

Leon joined Alpha Gamma Rho as a member of Tau chapter at Michigan State in 1942 and was elected chapter president in 1946. Later, he served as chapter adviser at both Oklahoma and New Mexico State Universities. He was also the president of the Block and Bridle club and Alpha Zeta while an undergraduate.

Leon headed Oklahoma State's Department of Animal Science from 1964-1968 as a teacher and researcher. From 1968-1976, he served as Associate Dean for Administrative Affairs, College of Agriculture, Texas A&M University. From 1976 til his retirement in 1985, Leon served as Dean of the College of Agriculture and Home Economics at New Mexico State University.

Leon married Vanna "Polly" Mershon in 1951. He died in his home in College Station, Texas on December 27, 2010.