Larry Ledebur (1940-2024): Obituary

Larry Ledebur was a quiet man with a strong sense of community and a passion for righting social injustice. Educated as an economist, his professional strength was thought leadership in policies and strategies for regional economic collaboration. However, his greatest personal strength was his ability to recognize potential in people – students, young colleagues, grandchildren – and then help them nurture that potential. He was a beloved friend, grandfather, father, husband, colleague, educator, and mentor. He approached life with kindness, humor, and generosity.

Larry was born in Big Spring, Texas, and was raised in Midland and San Antonio. He graduated from Austin College, in Sherman, Texas, and earned a master’s and doctorate in Economics from Florida State University. He began his career as Assistant Professor at Denison University. In 1970 he became Dean of Students.

Throughout his forty-year career he applied analytical tools to address urban and economic development issues. His research sought solutions for discord and inequality, and promoted equity. The formative events of the 60s and 70s inspired articles and books with his colleague and mentor, Bill Henderson: Economic Disparity: Problems and Strategies for Black America and Urban Economics: Processes and Problems.

He had a significant impact on national urban policy as Visiting Scholar for the U.S. Economic Development Association’s Office of Economic Research, and as Senior Economist and Associate Director of Research of President Carter’s White House Conference on Balanced National Growth and Economic Development. Strategies for regional collaboration and development evolved from his research. His work emphasized regional cooperation as an effective economic development strategy – a concept unheard of at that time.

His work at The Urban Institute as a Senior Research Associate and Director of its Economic Development Program continued to address national issues through entrepreneurial research and guiding state and local governments to implement effective economic development programs. During this time as a consultant he met Bill Barnes, Research Director at the National League of Cities. For three decades, they co-authored groundbreaking research on regional economies and about the interdependency of the welfare of cities and suburbs. Their contributions catalyzed the vision of the United States as a national system of economic regions.

As professor and Director of the Center for Urban Studies at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and as professor and Director of The Urban Center at Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio. Larry was a strong proponent of building partnerships and collaborations among public, private, and nonprofit community sectors, and was frequently a key speaker – locally, regionally, and nationally.

At Cleveland State University’s Urban Center from 1995 until his retirement in 2010, Larry and colleagues researched and wrote prolifically, with a special focus on the adaptive reuse of sacred landmarks. Larry’s efforts to develop human capital within the Levin College and Urban Center had enduring impact. He had an uncanny ability to identify undergraduate and Ph.D. students with promise and help them achieve their goals. Many now hold leadership roles in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

He served as Editor of Economic Development Quarterly (EDQ) for 10 years overseeing a substantial transition of the journal from a manual publication to an online format.

After his retirement he and his wife, Susan, moved to Chelsea, Michigan. He enjoyed visiting his children and grandchildren, fishing, and touring baseball fields with his brothers-in-law. He served his local community by chairing the Chelsea Planning Commission.

Larry died peacefully at home on February 5, 2024. He is survived by his wife, Susan Whitelaw, his daughters, Kathryn Ledebur, of Cochabamba, Bolivia, and Lara Sprenger (Steven), of Islamorada, Florida, and his stepchildren, Guy Downs (Shonnie Becker) of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Shelley Brenner (David) of Chelsea and by eight grandchildren: Elisa Meruvia, Nicholas Radley, Gabriel Downs, Christopher Radley, Sebastian Reinicke, Mia Brenner, Eva Brenner, and Amelia Downs. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clinton Willard Ledebur and Dencey Alice Noxon Ledebur, and by his sister, Jill Ledebur Mills.

The family will hold a memorial later. Memorial contributions can be sent to Planned Parenthood of America, the League of Women Voters, and the Scholarship Fund at the Silver Maples Retirement Community of Chelsea, Michigan.