Leon G. Billings papers

Leon Gregory Billings was born November 19, 1937 in Helena, Montana to Harry Billings (1913-1990) and Gretchen Garber Billings (1914-1999). He was the last of three sons born to Harry and Gretchen, who were editors of various newspapers.

Billings moved to Washington, D.C. in 1962 and worked in politics and public policy for over fifty years. He served as the first staff director of the Senate Environment subcommittee and was the primary author of the 1970 Clean Air Act. He also played a key role in the 1972 Clean Water Act. For more than a decade he worked for Senator Edmund S. Muskie of Maine as his environment adviser before becoming his chief of staff in his later years in the Senate and while Muskie was Secretary of State.

After his career with Muskie, Billings went on to teach at the University of Southern California, focusing on environmental issues. In 1990 his wife, Patricia, died and he was appointed to fill her seat in the Maryland Legislature. He was elected in his own right in 1991 and served in that role until 2003.

Billings later owned a consulting firm and taught many college courses, including at the University of Montana. He lived in Maryland with his second wife, Cherry, and had three children with his first wife, Patricia. He died November 15, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee while visiting family. Billings was remembered by former colleagues as a champion for environmental law.