Leo Jackson, 90 ended his earth journey on November 6—a generous and kind man who was loved by many.
His gift of being a mechanical genius and inventor was uncovered at an early age, taking apart every bicycle, clock, watch and camera he could get his hands on. His curiosity about what made things work led him into a job with Excello where he quickly climbed the ranks from screw machine operator to supervisor. He was a natural tool maker and machinist. After a short while, he started his own business on nights and weekends with a single machine in his parent’s basement. Later, his father, Leo Sr. and his brother, Richard, joined and they formed Precision Products of Asheville in 1963.
In his lifetime, he owned Precision Products of Asheville, a Plating Company, Precision Products Performance Center, Precision Products Racing, Arden Motorsports, Skoal Bandit Racing, and Leo Jackson Landscaping. He was very respected by his employees and customers as fair and honest.
Leo’s career in machining later transitioned from aerospace to building the best engine and chassis components in the racing industry. He was a humble man whose work was driven by his own passion, not a need for accolades. His numerous
accomplishments often went unrecognized. He engineered and developed many engine components that are still in use today. He was a great innovator in racing.
As a NASCAR Cup Team owner, he continued to innovate. In the 1980’s, Leo was the first to compile data in a laptop computer to develop the strategy of winning based on gas mileage.
Some of the highlights of Leo’s racing career include winning over 34 races in 1975 (Robert Pressley, Sr.), and finishing 2nd in the National standings in the NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Series; winning 4 NASCAR Cup Races in a row in 1991 with driver Harry Gant, making him known as Mr. September and finishing 4th in the Winston Cup point standings. Leo also won Engine Builder of the year in 1991. His early racing career started in 1950 at age 17, when he went to work for his uncle Lawrence Kitchin in Charlotte, NC building engines for Wilford Rogers. Drivers who raced for Leo include: Bill Grider, David Pearson, Robert Pressley, Sr., Dave Marcis, Tommy Ellis, Morgan Shepherd, Benny Parsons, Phil Parsons, Joe Ruttman, Greg Sacks, Robert Presley, Jr., and Harry Gant.
One could best describe Leo as a true Renaissance Man. He was an expert fly fisherman, accomplished bird hunter, award-winning skeet shooter, an excellent marksman, and was involved in Field Trialing with his Champion Smith English Setters. He also excelled at cooking, gardening, wine making, masonry, woodworking, and furniture making. He built 4 of the last homes he lived in during his last 66 years, utilizing the trees, slate and granite from his properties. He built several of his grandchildren cradles using walnut from the property.
Leo Jackson loved life and never wanted to let a day go by without learning something new. He lived life to the fullest until the end— making repair parts in his shop for his tractors, tending to his enormous vegetable garden, asparagus beds, grapes, and other fruit crops.
He was a member of the Etowah United Methodist Church.
His legacy will continue through Arden Motorsports and Precision Products Performance Center, Arden, NC. We can only imagine him now redesigning and machining components for the internal combustion engines in Heaven as well as the furniture.
He is predeceased by his wife Thelma Hargett Jackson, his parents, Leo Sr. and Frances Kitchin Jackson, brother, Richard Jackson and son Ricky Jackson. He is survived by 2 sisters, Patricia Marshall and Gail Morgan, 4 daughters, Roxanne Jackson-Tury, Lydia Connerty, Joni Sago, and Debbie Jackson; 7 grandchildren, Rachael Tury, Ryan Tury, Anna Sago, Mark Sago, Hugh Connerty, Cameron Connerty, and Harrison Schwartz-Jackson; 2 great grandchildren Teddy and Dutch Connerty; his dog Tony, 2 horses, as well as countless family members, and cherished friends.
His family will greet friends from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM on Saturday, November 11 in the Chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian. A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, November 12, 2023 at Etowah United Methodist Church. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family graciously asks that memorial donations be made in Leo’s name to Etowah United Methodist Church, 110 Brickyard Road, Etowah, NC 28729.
