David Owen Landrith

David Owen Landrith was born on April 18, 1947 in Alturas, California, the first child of Dick and Margaret Landrith. His childhood years were spent on a ranch in rural Davis Creek, California. In the mid fifties, the family moved to the Bay Area, where David attended Pacheco Elementary School, Glenbrook Junior High, and Pleasant Hill High School. In 1963, the family relocated to Irving, Texas, and then on to Graham, Texas, where David graduated from Graham High School in 1965. That fall, David entered TCU in Fort Worth, where he attended for 2 ½ years prior to relocating to Tempe and entering Arizona State University (ASU). While attending Graham High School, David attended Boys State, where he was inspired to public life and the political arena - a passion that shaped him and remained with him the rest of his life.

David actively entered the field of public policy at ASU during the time when many young Americans were questioning US policy regarding sovereignty in Southeast Asia. He organized, led, and inspired ASU students to let their opinions be known in a civil and peaceful manner. His open, direct, and frank manner caught the attention of local leaders. While many people questioned his opinion, most admired his willingness to stand for the values he so clearly believed in.

He took those values and his trustworthiness to the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, where he began a long love affair with the workings of Arizona government. His relationships with elected and appointed leaders became the stuff of legends as he progressed through time and the chambers of City Hals, County Courthouses, and the Chambers of the Arizona Legislature, as well as the executive offices of State Government.

Leaving the League, he became a highly successful and popular Executive Director of the Southeast Arizona Government Organization known as SEAGO. His low key leadership style allowed him to gather many highly talented people who set about the task of assisting community leaders to make their cities, towns, and counties a better place to live and work. His drive, energy, analytic abilities, and charisma helped him forge bonds that will persist for many decades to come.

Even though he was well established in his career, he felt the need to grow both personally and professionally. David went off to Harvard to earn a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government. He cherished his time at Harvard, but inevitably took the skills he acquired back to Arizona, the home that he loved.

After coming home to Arizona, he entered government service with the Arizona Medical Board, where he became knowledgeable of the health care needs of Arizonans and the people and institutions that fulfill those needs. His time with the medical board led him to the Arizona Medical Association for 25 years, where he became a highly respected advisor on medical policy to many organizations and agencies, including the Arizona Senate and the State House of Representatives. His voice will be missed in our personal lives, offices, committee rooms, hallways, and over the telephone. While his voice has been stilled, his relationships, work, and teachings will endure.

David Landrith’s passing was preceded by his parents, Richard and Margaret Landrith, and his bother Tim Landrith. He is survived by his spouse, Gretchen Wagner Landrith, his brother Richard Landrith, and his sister Lori (Landrith) Winn.

He will be mourned by his many friends, family, and associates. Memorial Services will be held at the Church of the Beatitudes, 555 W. Glendale Ave., at 1:30 pm on Friday, February 27, 2015. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Park Foundation or your favorite charity.

Arrangements under the direction of A.L. Moore-Grimshaw Bethany Chapel, Phoenix, AZ.