In Leon’s company, it seemed that anything might be possible

Leon Lederman was an early and vigorous advocate for the “Truly National Laboratory,” realized as the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois. He led a series of influential experiments at the new laboratory that culminated in the discovery of the Upsilon particles, bound states of a new fifth quark, b, and its antiparticle. Lederman served as Fermilab’s director from 1978 to 1989, a decisive period for the construction of the Tevatron superconducting synchrotron and its exploitation as a proton–antiproton collider. This talk will focus on Leon’s time as Director and his contributions to Fermilab’s science and spirit.