Larry Belcher

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]

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]

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]}