Leo Lucas started his career at The University of Nebraska in 1959 and retired as Dean and Director of Cooperative Extension in 1990. His first responsibility in adult education involved working as an Extension Specialist where he assisted in initiating the Nebraska Pork Producers Association and the National Pork Producers Association. As a result of these activities, he was the youngest professional to receive the National Distinguished Animal Science Extension Award. He also received the National Pork Industry Award. In 1970, he took a two-year leave from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln to chair the Animal Science Section of the Nebraska Mission in Bogota, Colombia. He returned to Nebraska as the Director of The University of Nebraska West Central Research and Extension Center. In 1978, he moved back to Lincoln as Dean and Director of Cooperative Extension where he had broad responsibilities for adult and continuing education.
Over the next 15 years, he developed the statewide computer system (AGNET) and the Nebraska Farm Business Association. He served as Chairman of the Great Plains Council, as Secretary and Chairman of the North Central Region Extension Committee on Organization and Policy, and Chairman of the National Extension Task Force on Families.