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.