Larry Belcher Explained

Larry Belcher
State House:Kentucky
District:49th
Term Start:January 1, 2007
Term End:October 6, 2008
Preceded:Mary C. Harper
Succeeded:Linda H. Belcher
Term Start2:January 1, 1999
Term End2:January 1, 2003
Preceded2:Allen Maricle
Succeeded2:Mary C. Harper
Birth Name:Larry Lee Belcher
Birth Date:4 April 1947
Birth Place:Campbellsville, Kentucky, U.S.[1]
Death Place:Edmonson County, Kentucky, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Linda Belcher
Residence:Shepherdsville, Kentucky
Education:Eastern Kentucky University (BS)
University of Louisville (MS)
Occupation:Educator

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]

Early life

Belcher was born in Campbellsville, Kentucky on April 4, 1947. 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.

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. 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 a State Senate Seat. In 2005, he was appointed administrator of the Bullitt County Planning and Zoning Commission. He returned to the House in 2006 and ran for reelection in 2008.

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. That same year, Belcher defeated Joe Walls 4,332 to 2,039 in the Democratic primary for Kentucky House district 49. 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.

Election Results

Kentucky State House of Representatives

Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
Kentucky House of Representatives, 49th district
November 3, 1998[11] GeneralLarry BelcherDemocratic5,98355.01
Allen MaricleRepublican4,89344.99
November 7, 2000GeneralRussell WebberRepublican8,83954.12
Larry BelcherDemocratic7,49245.88
November 2, 2004GeneralMary HarperRepublican8,22244.07
Larry BelcherDemocratic10,43455.93
November 7, 2006GeneralLarry BelcherDemocratic4,90353.33
Mary HarperRepublican4,29146.67

Kentucky State Senate

Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
Kentucky State Senate 20
November 5, 2002GeneralGary TappRepublican Party17,20456.46
Larry BelcherDemocratic Party13,26643.54

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.

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]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Larry Belcher's Biography. Vote Smart. March 26, 2016.
  2. WDRB. "State Representative Larry Belcher Killed in Car Crash". Retrieved on November 2, 2015.
  3. News: Wife of Ky. State Rep. Dan Johnson wants to replace him in the legislature . WDRB-TV . December 14, 2017 . December 14, 2017.
  4. http://kycir.org/2017/12/28/bullitt-county-gop-picks-rebecca-johnson-to-run-for-house-seat/ Bullitt county GOP picks Rebecca Johnson to run for house seat
  5. http://wkms.org/post/candidates-certified-49th-dist-special-election-following-lawmaker-s-suicide Candidates Certified for 49th Dist. Special Election Following Lawmaker's Suicide
  6. News: Kentucky Democrat Wins Special Election To Reclaim Seat After Lawmaker's Suicide. NPR.org. February 21, 2018. en.
  7. http://www.kentuckynewera.com/news/ap/article_9b6dd2fe-7770-52f2-9d10-201a5eaa6e3d.html Wife of lawmaker who killed himself loses election bid
  8. News: Harvey. Scott. Family of Larry Belcher Talks About the Man They Knew. March 26, 2016. Wave 3 News. October 7, 2008.
  9. News: Zambroski . James . Maricle Faces Stiff Challenge in 49th District: School Veteran Larry Belcher is Well-Known . October 5, 2020 . Courier-Journal . September 23, 1998.
  10. News: Zambroski . James . Roads Set for $900,000 in Repairs This Year: Rep. Belcher Snags an Extra $200,000 . October 5, 2020 . The Courier-Journal . February 24, 1999.
  11. Web site: Kentucky General Election, November 3, 1998. Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Elections. February 21, 2018.
  12. Dave Newton. "State Rep. Larry Belcher Killed in I-65 Accident". Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. October 6, 2008. Retrieved on November 2, 2015.
  13. Web site: HR59. Kentucky House Resolution 59. October 3, 2020.
  14. Stephen Thomas. "Fox Chase Town Meeting, January 2020". Pioneer News. Retrieved on October 4, 2020.
  15. Stephen Thomas. "Fox Chase Town Meeting, September 2020". Pioneer News. Retrieved on October 4, 2020.