Larry Ledebur (1940-2024)
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 40-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.
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