Sign devotion for Brent Leh Dog Park set for Wednesday

Leh, a popular regional vet, passed away at the age of 32 on Oct. 6, 2018, from injuries suffered in a motorbike mishap.

Leh was a team member at Hawthorne Animal Hospital in Glen Carbon, which was established by his grandpa, Merrill Ottwein.

The Brent Leh Dog Park indication was developed by Sherrie Hickman with Creative Options in late 2022, and it was set up on May 23 by Engraphix Architectural Signage after workers from the Edwardsville Parks and Recreation Department excavated and put the footing for the indication.

“It’s been a long time coming trying to have the sign made, primarily due to COVID, so we’re happy to finally have the ceremony,” said Ann Leh Culp, who is Leh’s mom.

In addition to his mom, relative anticipated to participate in the event include his sibling Rick Leh and partner Laura and child Devyn; his sweetheart Molly Harris and her child Luca; his daddy Richard Leh Jr.; his stepfather Mike Culp; his aunties, Amy Zagar (who is being available in from Dallas) and Emily Ottwein; his uncle Paul Ottwein and partner Amber; his grandpa Merrill Ottwein, 94, and his granny Grace Ottwein, 91. Several cousins who reside in town might participate in the event too.

The dog park was renamed in Leh’s honor in 2019, thanks to his friends and family.

“One of Brent’s best friends wanted to name the park after him and she got the ball rolling and had a fundraiser,” Culp said. “So many people came out and they raised enough to money to expand the park and make improvements.”

‘Beyond grateful’

Over the past couple of years, the city has added a frost-free water source to allow for year-round access to water, additional benches for dog owners to relax while they’re at the park and extra dog-waste stations to make it easy to clean up after their pet.

“We’ve also made it a point to keep up on beautification by replacing dead trees and removing some of the overgrown areas around the park,” said Nate Tingley, director of Parks and Recreation. “We will continue to plant additional trees for more shade, add landscaping to continue beautifying the park and look at other measures to add shade for dogs and dog owners alike.”

For Culp, the city’s commitment to improving the dog park makes the sign dedication event even more meaningful.

“It’s so fabulous and we are beyond grateful that his friends and the city want to remember Brent this way,” Culp said. “He filled the room, and he was exuberant and adventurous.

“He would send me pictures of places or activities and he would say they were on his bucket list, then he would let me know when he checked those things off his list.

“In 32 years, he packed in more than I ever had, and it made me realize I had to pick up my game. His motto was ‘put one foot in front of the other.’ That’s what do now, for him.  We know that’s what he wants for us, and we don’t want to disappoint him.”

Tingley, meanwhile, doesn’t have to look far to know that dog owners also appreciate the updates to the park.

“Given its popularity, about the only time it’s not in use is either late at night or when the parks laborers are cleaning the turf, which we try to do about once a month in spring, summer and fall,” Tingley said. “It’s open year-round and we often see a lot of usage on those bluebird winter days as the synthetic turf is a nice clean area regardless of the weather (snow, ice, rain, etc.).”

‘Perfect tribute’

For Culp, Brent Leh Dog Park is a living monument to her son.

“We go by the park as often as we can and it’s always packed and we’re so delighted about that,” Culp said. “We’re especially excited now that the sign is up and people will know who it is named for. Having people know and remember him, that’s what is important to us.

“We know that he thinks that this is the greatest thing. It’s a perfect tribute to him and his passion for animals, especially dogs, and for people. He loved everyone and made them feel like they were his best friend.”

Leh was a graduate of Edwardsville High School, where he was captain of the wrestling team and later served as a volunteer assistant coach. A celebration of his life was conducted at the Jon Davis Wrestling Center, across from EHS.

He graduated from Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville and the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, both with honors. After veterinary school, he joined the staff at Hawthorne Animal Hospital.

Leh’s obituary noted that “In true Brent fashion, five lives have been saved through his gift of organ donation.”

For his mother, the organ donations are a way of keeping Brent and his memory alive while helping others live.

“I’ve met all five of those people including his heart recipient. That one was especially difficult, and it took me several years to get to that point,” Culp said. “I met him, and he is so lovely and so appreciative.

“He always signs his texts with ‘I love you with all our heart.’  You can’t imagine what that means to us. The other recipients are also lovely people, and they appreciate the gift as well.

“Some people say they’re going to sign up as organ donors and they don’t do it, but it’s become so important to us. I was registered but I never really thought about it.

“You don’t think about it until something happens to your family and then you realize the magnitude of it.”

Another of her son’s organ donations is especially meaningful because of the family connection.

“My cousin’s husband was on a kidney transplant list for three years and he was taking his dog in to see Brent,” Culp said. “Several months before the accident, Brent wanted to test to see if he was a match, but Kevin said he didn’t want a kidney from anyone in the family and they weren’t blood related.

“Kevin didn’t let Brent test. We, the family, asked Mid-America Transplant to test after the accident when we learned Brent could be a donor. The kidney match with Kevin was a perfect match.

“So, my cousin’s husband has actually Brent’s kidney and Brent wanted him to have it. That it happened after the mishap makes it more incredible.”