Leroy Jordan was born on December 27, 1941 in Murphysboro, IL to Edward and Alma (Johnson) Jordan.

He attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL for his bachelor’s degree in Education. After teaching for a year in Hopkins Park, IL he moved to Springfield, where he worked as a teacher at Iles Elementary School from 1965 to 1969 and was one of the first black male teachers in the district. In 1969 he took a job with the State Board of Vocational Education in their research and development, and in 1972 joined Sangamon State University (later University of Illinois-Springfield) as the Assistant Director of the Applied Studies Program. Jordan stayed at SSU for 20 years, serving later as Director of the Applied Studies Program, Dean of the Innovative and Experimental Studies School, and finally as Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs. In 1992 he returned to Springfield School District 186 as the Assistant Superintendent for Research and Assessment, where he remained until he retired in 1998.

Jordan was an active member of the Springfield community. He served on the school board of District 196 from 1976 to 1982, serving twice as president and working to implement the district’s desegregation plan. He served at times on the Catholic School Board and as the principal of the adult education program at Southeast High School. He was a member of many community organizations, including the Prince Hall Masons, NAACP, the Urban League, the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, the Faith Coalition for the Common Good, and the Springfield Dominican Anti-Racism Team.

Jordan married Johnetta Williams on August 5, 1963 in Murphysboro, IL. He passed away on September 5, 2020.