March 15, 1994
 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 Pavilion. 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 16 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, Courtney Leatherman; and three grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete last night at Pearson's.

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