Larry Belcher
American politician
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Larry Lee Belcher (April 4, 1947 – October 6, 2008) was an American educator, county zoning administrator, and Democratic member of the Kentucky House of Representatives. He represented Kentucky's 49th House district, which includes parts of Bullitt County. Belcher was killed in a car accident in 2008. His wife Linda, a former elementary school principal, replaced Belcher on the 2008 ballot. She was subsequently elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 2008 and was reelected in 2010. She lost in 2012, won again in 2014, lost in 2016, and won a special election to return to the legislature in February 2018.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
Larry Belcher | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 49th district | |
| In office January 1, 2007 – October 6, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Mary C. Harper |
| Succeeded by | Linda H. Belcher |
| In office January 1, 1999 – January 1, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Allen Maricle |
| Succeeded by | Mary C. Harper |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Larry Lee Belcher April 4, 1947 |
| Died | October 6, 2008 (aged 61) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Linda Belcher |
| Relations |
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| Children |
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| Education | Eastern Kentucky University (BS) University of Louisville (MS) |
| Occupation | Educator |
Early life
Belcher was born in Campbellsville, Kentucky on April 4, 1947.[1] His parents were Cecil Lee Belcher and Margaret Lucille Girtley. In the 1960s, Belcher was receiving his bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky University and his master's degree from University of Louisville.[8] In 1970, he was beginning his career as a teacher in Bullitt County. He was also a coach in softball and gymnastics.[8]
Career
Belcher spent most of his career as a teacher and coach before becoming an administrator. He served as principal of Lebanon Junction Elementary School in Bullitt County.[2] He also became principal of Roby and Nichols Elementary School in the Bullitt County School District.[9] Subsequently, Belcher served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1999 to 2001. In 2002, he unsuccessfully ran against Gary Tapp for the 20th Senate district. In 2005, he was appointed administrator of the Bullitt County Planning and Zoning Commission.[8] He returned to the House in 2006 and ran for reelection in 2008.[2]
During his run for political office in 1998, Belcher was serving as the director of buildings and ground maintenance for the Bullitt County School District.[9] That same year, Belcher defeated Joe Walls 4,332 to 2,039 in the Democratic primary for Kentucky House district 49.[9] Shortly after he was taking office in February 1999, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet allotted $700,000 for the repair of roads in Bullitt County.[10] According to the Courier-Journal, Belcher secured an additional $200,000 at the last minute for the maintenance and resurfacing of 13.6 miles of road.[10]
Election results
Kentucky House of Representatives
| Date | Election | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky House of Representatives, 49th district | ||||||
| November 3, 1998[11] | General | Larry Belcher | Democratic | 5,983 | 55.01 | |
| Allen Maricle | Republican | 4,893 | 44.99 | |||
| November 7, 2000 | General | Russell Webber | Republican | 8,839 | 54.12 | |
| Larry Belcher | Democratic | 7,492 | 45.88 | |||
| November 2, 2004 | General | Mary Harper | Republican | 8,222 | 44.07 | |
| Larry Belcher | Democratic | 10,434 | 55.93 | |||
| November 7, 2006 | General | Larry Belcher | Democratic | 4,903 | 53.33 | |
| Mary Harper | Republican | 4,291 | 46.67 | |||
Kentucky Senate
| Date | Election | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Senate, 20th district | ||||||
| November 5, 2002 | General | Gary Tapp | Republican Party | 17,204 | 56.46 | |
| Larry Belcher | Democratic Party | 13,266 | 43.54 | |||
Death
On October 6, 2008, Belcher was killed in a traffic accident in Edmonson County, Kentucky when his pickup truck ran into the back of a stopped tractor-trailer truck on Interstate 65.[12] The medical cause of the accident was never determined.[citation needed]
Legacy
On January 10, 2018, Kentucky House Resolution 59 was introduced by Representatives Steve Riggs and Joni Jenkins urging the owners of KentuckyOne Health to rename the Medical Center South Jewish Hospital in Shepherdsville in honor of Belcher and his wife Linda, for their contributions to Bullitt County.[13] Subsequently, the University of Louisville Health-Medical Center South elected to rename its boardroom the Larry Belcher Meeting Room. As of 2020, the Larry Belcher Meeting Room is the location of the Fox Chase City Council town hall meetings.[14][15]