Leon Wayne Hawker was born on May 31, 1938, in Danville, Virginia, to Leonidas “Snooks” Hawker and Aileen Walker Hawker. Leon grew up in Danville and began playing sports at a young age. He graduated from George Washington High School, where he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. He went on to attend Hampden-Sydney College, where he set basketball and baseball records and was later inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Leon married Irene Baum, and together they had three children: Suzie, Leon Jr., and Anne Frost. In 1967, Leon accepted Christ as his Savior at First Baptist Church in Danville. In 1976, Leon and Irene moved to Mobile, Alabama, where Leon spent many happy hours fishing and shrimping in Perdido Key, Florida.

The couple later returned to Virginia and settled in Midlothian, where they lived on the Stonehenge Golf Course and Leon enjoyed playing often. During the last four years of his life, Leon and Irene resided in the Brandermill Woods community.