Historical February 1982 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Ron Laboe is a genial, quiet-spoken person who has great enthusiasm for his new job as executive director of the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council.
When interviewed, he emphasized the challenge of his job, stating: “I see this job as an exciting challenge to accomplish many things.
There is so much potential in this part of the city of St. Louis which has been realized, and much that is still to be realized. I couldn’t pass it up!” It has been two months since Skip Coburn, former director of the Community Council, resigned to assume his new position as director of Land Reutilization Authority.
An interim committee composed of Esther Herron, Karleen Hoerr, Dan McGuire, Cal Stuart, and Ed Walsh oversaw the Council’s affairs before Laboe was hired after an extensive search and hiring process. Laboe brings a wealth of experience to his new position.
He has a master’s degree in urban affairs from St. Louis University, and served as a city planner, concentrating on project development for the Community Development Agency of St. Louis.
The new director has been very active in the Bevo neighborhood where he lives with his wife and four-year-old son. Laboe feels that living in the Bevo area of South St. Louis, where he was a planning consultant for that area’s neighborhood umbrella group, Bevo 2001, gives him an advantage for the new job as director of the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council.
He said, “I can currently take an objective look at neighborhood issues.” The new director is originally from the Soulard-Benton Park area, and saw it resurrect itself to a thriving neighborhood. Laboe’s wry sense of humor will be an added asset in his new position.
As a former Captain in the Air Force, he commented that he received a “free tour of the Orient— a year in Viet Nam.” While there, Laboe ran a base FM radio station as well as being involved in public relations during his military career.
For new residents of the Skinker-DeBal- iviere area, a capsule history of the origin of the Community Council may be of interest.
The Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council was established in March of 1966 as a co-operative effort of three local neighborhood residential organizations: Rosedale, Parkview and Washington Heights; four area churches: Delmar Baptist, Grace Methodist, and St. Roch’s, and St. Michael’s and St. George’s; and Washington University.
The Council’s purpose is to work together as a force to maintain and develop a healthy urban community to benefit present and future residents.
By working with other community groups, the Council has made a significant impact on the area’s revitalization.
The Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council has received numerous awards such as the “Phoenix and the Future” Award for service to the Central West End (May 1978) and a Certificate of Appreciation from First National Bank for contributing to the enhancement of life in the City of St. Louis (April 1980). Ron Laboe is the fourth executive director of the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council.
The first was Jim L’Ecuyer who was succeeded by Cal Stuart, who was then followed by Skip Coburn. Laboe’s current plans are to “talk with a lot of people who are involved with the neighborhood.” He stated that he has been here for three weeks, and is learning more all the time.
He plans to take time to listen and learn. Laboe is presently very busy with correspondence, and is interested in the re-opening of Des Peres Library which was recently damaged by fire.
The new director would like to see theSkinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood involved in a good crime prevention program.
He has been to two council meetings, and has plans on working on projects together with the new West End Neighborhood Arts Council. Laboe is also very excited about the new neighborhood arts poster which will be circulated to the neighborhood soon. Ron Laboe is committed to his new job as the executive director of the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council, and the neighborhood extends a warm welcome to him.
Original photograph caption
Ron Laboe, new SDCC executive director. The Paper, February 1982, printed page 6. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Paper, February 1982.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1982_02.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 7.
