Laurel True, longtime advocate for health, education and human services, dies suddenly at 80

Laurel W. True, who continued his public service for health and other causes long after leaving state government, died suddenly Saturday at his home near Waddy in Shelby County. He was 80.

"For the onwards five decades, Mr. True worked tirelessly to better the vigor and welfare of Kentuckians," The Courier-Journal thought in an editorial. Modish the 1970s True was the at the outset desk of the old Cabinet in support of Human Resources and executive director of Kentucky Health Systems Agency-West, a state health-planning organization, and was an assistant director of community tutoring. Earlier, he helped start Medicaid in Kentucky and the conversion of United Mine Workers hospitals into Appalachian Regional Hospitals.
Modish retirement he continued as an advocate in support of vigor, education and individual services as a limb of the National Policy Council of AARP, sub- chairman of the board of Seven Counties Services, desk of Kentucky Voices in support of Health, a limb of the Friedell Committee in support of Health System Transformation and as a trustee of Georgetown College, his alma mater. Under the aegis of the Freidell Committee in 2009, True conducted a study of the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program in Anderson County, which helped go in front to plan changes designed to simplicity and promote enrollment in KCHIP.

“He was a wonderful champion all of his life,” Sheila Schuster, a longtime mental vigor advocate, told The Courier-Journal. “He was in no way arrogant or self-serving.”

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.M. Tuesday and 9 to 10 a.M. Wednesday by the side of Immanuel Baptist cathedral in Frankfort, anywhere True was a deacon and Sunday School teacher. The funeral will keep to by the side of 10 a.M., with imprisonment in Frankfort Cemetery and arrangements by LeCompte-Johnson-Taylor Funeral Home. Donations are suggested to the Infant Resource Center by the side of Immanuel Baptist cathedral, 1075 Collins traffic lane, Frankfort KY 40601.