Remembering Larry G. Lee

It is with a heavy heart we share the passing of Larry Lee, longtime Rural Schools Collaborative advocate, board member, and friend, on June 22 at the age of 83 in Mobile, Alabama.

Larry was among the earliest supporters of RSC's work, including serving on the Board of Directors from 2016-2021. He logged many, many miles visiting rural schools across Alabama, serving as an ambassador for Rural Schools Collaborative's Grants in Place program to deliver grant checks to rural schools (pictured above), and writing impactful stories of these rural students, teachers, and places.

Gary Funk, former Director of Rural Schools Collaborative from 2014-2021, shared the following reflection:

"Larry Lee was a passionate voice for schools and communities. He was a steadfast advocate for rural education, and he had a keen understanding of the relationship between good schools and economic development.

I should also note that RSC would not be where it is today without Larry. Not only was he a joyful board member and an entertaining writer, but his early work with Dr. Jan Miller and her colleagues at The University of West Alabama was instrumental in advancing RSC, its Regional Hub program, and the Rural Teacher Corps initiative. As Larry happily opined, UWA's Black Belt Teacher Corps was 'settin' the woods on fire!'

Larry will be missed."