[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 15, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: March 15, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
REMEMBERING A GREAT LOUISVILLIAN CIVIC LEADER
Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I rise today with great sadness to
honor a departed friend. Laramie [Larry] Leatherman, of Louisville, KY,
passed away at the young age of 61 yesterday.
I have known Larry for many years, and Louisville will suffer because
of this loss. He had long been involved in the Louisville community and
was currently serving as the chairman of the Louisville Area Chamber of
Commerce. Larry, along with other hardworking Louisvillians, was
instrumental in forming the comprehensive plan for downtown Louisville.
I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering this outstanding
Kentuckian. Those of us who knew Larry will miss his sense of humor,
intellect, and dedication to helping his community. Madam President, I
ask that a statement I gave honoring Larry Leatherman in September
1992, be included in the Record at this point. In addition, I ask that
an article from the March 15, 1994, Courier Journal be inserted into
the Record following my statement.
There being objection, the article was ordered to be printed in the
Record, as follows:
Tribute to Laramie L. Leatherman--Small Town Values Pay Big Dividends
Madam President, I rise today and ask my colleagues to join
me in paying tribute to a great Louisvillian. Laramie (Larry)
Leatherman has risen from a humble rural background to become
chairman of the executive committee of one of Kentucky's most
prestigious law firms, Greenbaum Doll & McDonald.
Born and raised on a farm in East-Central Illinois, Mr.
Leatherman is no stranger to hard work. At an early age he
was driving a team of horses to cultivate a crop of corn, as
well as raising cattle and butchering hogs. Despite enjoying
his early life he knew that he would eventually want to get
off of the farm. Through the guidance of his parents he
learned that the way out was through education. Mr.
Leatherman excelled in the classroom graduating high school
at age 16 and the University of Kentucky College of Law by
age 21.
Fresh from law school, Mr. Leatherman came to Washington,
D.C. to be a clerk for a U.S. Tax Court judge. He stayed in
this position for almost 3 years and believes that the job
gave him ideal training for his position as a tax attorney at
Greenbaum Doll & McDonald. He has been with the Louisville
firm for 33 years, the past 6 in his current capacity as
chairman of the executive committee.
In addition to being an accomplished tax lawyer, Mr.
Leatherman is praised by his friends and colleagues as one
with a great deal of common sense. He is a master at
explaining the complicated and making it understandable. He
is able to quickly understand complex concepts and then
effectively pass on his knowledge to others.
Outside the law, Mr. Leatherman is active in other
activities as well. He is a trustee and vice president of the
Gheens Foundation Inc., vice president of Kentucky
Educational Foundation Inc., and vice chairman of Louisville
Central Area. He gives freely of his time and expertise to
these organizations contributing greatly to their successes.
Madam President, I ask my colleagues to join me in
recognizing this fine Louisvillian whose life is an example
of how hard work and dedication pay off with great reward.
____
Louisville Civic Leader Larry Leatherman, 61, Dies of Heart Attack
(By Sheldon Shafer)
Attorney Laramie ``Larry'' Leatherman, chairman of the
Louisville Area Chamber of Commerce and one of Louisville's
busiest civic leaders, died yesterday at Alliant Medical
Pavillion, He was 61 and died of a heart attack, his law firm
said.
Leatherman was chairman of the executive committee of
Greenebaum, Doll & McDonald, one of Kentucky's largest law
firms. In the late 1980s, as chairman of Louisville Central
Area he was a prime mover in the creation of a comprehensive
plan for downtown Louisville. He also was active in promoting
education--he is credited with coming up with the idea for
the Gheens Professional Development Academy, a teacher-
training institute in Louisville. He was a trustee and vice
president of the Gheens Foundation, and had been treasurer.
His death came as a shock to Mayor Jerry Abramson, who said
Leatherman was one of 18 partners in Greenebaum Doll &
McDonald when Abramson joined the firm about 20 years ago,
Leatherman worked closely with Abramson on numerous chamber
activities and economic-development and downtown projects and
committees.
Leatherman's death ``is a tremendous loss to this community
and to me personally,'' the mayor said, ``he contributed
greatly to our economic growth.''
Abramson said Leatherman was a firm believer in the need to
unify local government and the community. He and Jefferson
County Judge-Executive Dave Armstrong had met with Leatherman
on Friday to discuss a planned study of local government.
Leatherman ``never talked about the East End or the West
End; he truly believed in the community and that we could
grow only as a consolidated community, with a common goal and
common leadership,'' Abramson said.
Armstrong noted that Leatherman was serving as a co-
chairman of the county's Cornerstone 2020 project, which
includes the drafting of a new county land-use plan.
``This is a real blow,'' Armstrong said of Leatherman's
death. ``He was a close friend. . . . If you think of all the
contributions he made, filling his shoes will not be easy for
any individuals or the community.''
Chamber of Commerce and downtown development officials said
Leatherman had a critical leadership role in downtown
projects now under way.
``As much as anybody else, he is responsible for the
Louisville Downtown Development Plan,'' said Errol Frailey,
president of Louisville Central Area. The plan, put together
four or five years ago, triggered such projects as the
expansion of Commonwealth Convention Center and development
of a Main Street cultural district.
``He wanted to make sure this was not just a plan that sat
on the shelf,'' Downtown Development Corp, director Barry
Alberts said of the cultural district. ``He made us stick
with it.''
Alderman Paul Bather said: ``He was a hard worker. Even
though he achieved financial success and some power, he was
still just one of the guys, and very approachable. He had a
great sense of humor, but at the same time, he did not mind
cussing you out, if you deserved it.''
P. Richard Anderson Jr., partner in charge of the
Louisville office of Greenebaum Doll & McDonald, said
Leatherman was one of the firm's earliest partners, joining
about 35 years ago. ``His loss will leave a tremendous void,
for the community and the firm,'' Anderson said. ``His
leadership will be missed terribly.''
Leatherman, who specialized in tax law, was born in
Martinsville, Ill. He graduated from Eastern Illinois State
University in 1950 and the University of Kentucky Law School
in 1953. He was a UK Fellow and past president of the UK Law
Alumni Association.
In addition to his other community work, he was a director
of the Downtown Development Corp., a member of the executive
committee of Bellarmine College, and director and secretary
of the Center for Leadership in School Reform.
He was past director of the Louisville-Jefferson County
Regional Airport Authority. He was a commissioner of the
Louisville and Jefferson County Convention & Visitors Bureau
and served on many chamber committees. He was a member of
Calvin Presbyterian Church and an Army veteran.
He was a member of the Louisville, Kentucky and American
bar associations; and of Harmony Landing Country Club,
Pendennis Club and Jefferson Club.
He is survived by his wife, Portia; two sons, Jeffrey and
Todd Leatherman; a daughter, Coutney Leatherman; and three
grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete last night at
Pearson's.
____________________