Lawrence Lee Gish
The Hall of Fame for City and Town Officials may induct one person posthumously each year. For 2002, an individual was selected not only for the changes he helped to bring about in Oklahoma but also for international leadership in his profession. Lawrence Lee (Larry) Gish is another Kansan, like Ernest, who created legacies in his adopted state. Born at home during a near-blizzard in Little River, Kansas, Larry learned early from his parents the value of autonomy, warm support, and humor as fundamental life tools. Hallmarks of his career were commitment to the needs of the weak and relatively powerless, a sense of social justice, and listening to those often ignored by others.
Larry graduated from high school in Kingman, Kansas, then entered Topeka's Washburn University in 1948. His quest was to become a lawyer and eventually a state legislator. However, he became enthralled with the field of city management and decided to make that his career. He transferred to KU where he received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees. His public service began as the Assistant City Manager of Hutchinson, Kansas. Later he was City Manager of Marceline, Missouri, and Arkansas City, Kansas. He was selected in 1966 as City Manager for Stillwater, which became his home for the next 25 years.
During his tenure at Stillwater, Larry served as chairman of the Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma, the Kaw Reservoir Authority, and the Central Oklahoma Economic Development District. He was also on the board of the Oklahoma Municipal League. In each organization, he became recognized as a deft negotiator with disarming humor. He led his profession as president of both the Kansas and Oklahoma city manager associations. His influence was also tapped for international service. As such, he served as a member of the International City Management Association's, Academy of Urban Management, its Future Horizons Committee, the PIN Steering Committee, and a European Task Force. In 1978 he was elected as the association's President. Larry is the only Oklahoman to serve as ICMA President.
In 1983, the year following his resignation as City Manager, Larry was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives where he served until his death on September 13, 1991. During his eight years in the legislature, he was the principal author of several measures relating to cities and towns. One was the 1990 constitutional amendment that allows municipalities to issue bonds to finance the purchase, construction, or improvement of any public utility. Senator Cal Hobson recently observed that Larry was a highly persuasive legislator since he understood perfectly the phrase, "It's amazing what you can get done in politics if you don't care who gets the credit."
Profoundly honest, totally ethical, extremely intelligent, and committed always to do the right things for citizens are his legacy.