Sir Knight Leslie Alphonso "Les" Laing O.D. was born February 11, 1923, in Linstead, Jamaica too Charles A. Laing and Adlin Johnson Laing. He was the eldest of 3 brothers, Ronald, Vincent, and Gladston Laing who preceded him in death, and one surviving sister Veronica Blackwood. Sir Knight Leslie A. Laing O.D. departed this life peacefully on Sunday morning, February 7, 2021, in Clermont, Florida.

Les attended Linstead Elementary School and graduated from Dinthill Technical High School. He enrolled at Jamaica School of Agriculture from where he enlisted in the Royal Air Force in 1944 serving 3 years where he became a track and field standout. Les competed in the London Olympics in 1948 as a member of the Jamaican National Track and Field Team and in the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games setting a legendary world record as the second leg in the 4x400m relay of the Gallant 4, earning the first Olympic gold medal in Jamaican history.

Les was united in holy matrimony to Carmen L. Phipps on August 29, 1953, who is also an accomplished athlete competing in the 1946 CAC Games in Barranquilla earning a gold medal in the high jump, the 1948 London Olympics, and the 1950 CAC Games in Guatemala earning a silver medal in the high jump.

Les extended his athletic dominance winning a gold and silver medal in the Central American and Caribbean Games in Guatemala 1949 and Mexico 1954, followed by another gold and silver medals in the Commonwealth Games in Canada 1954. He later graduated from Fresno State University with a bachelor's degree in Animal Husbandry and went on to the University of California Davis where he completed his master's degree in Animal Nutrition in 1956.

Les was employed as the International Sales Executive for the Western Region of Africa with Central Soya until he transferred to Puerto Rico where his territory was the Caribbean Islands.  He remained employed with Central Soya until his retirement when he and Carmen moved back to the United States and established residence in Clermont, Florida.

Les was inducted into the Fresno State University Hall of Fame in 1988, Jamaican Hall of Fame in 2003, Central America and Caribbean Hall of Fame in 2005. He was bestowed the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican Government in 1979 and knighted as a 4 ^th degree Knight of Columbus in 2013.

Les is survived by his wife of 67 years Carmen L. Laing, 3 children: daughter Lesley D. Saunders (Darryl) and sons Derek B. Laing and Dwight A. Laing (Andrea). Sister Veronica Blackwood, 5 Grandchildren: Henry B. Vernon III (Rosemary), Edward H. Laing (Shellee), Jennifer M. Laing, Randall L. Laing, and Hollis B. Laing.  5 greatgrandchildren: Henry B. Vernon IV, Sophia M. Vernon, Jaden C. Vernon, La'Naye S. Laing, Savanna C. Scott, and a host of family and friends.