Liberty broadcaster Kevin Ladd has died
posted on 12.18.2014- courtesy of KJAS.com
A veteran broadcaster and historian in Liberty County has died. Kevin Ladd, who was News Director at KSHN in Liberty , and later became the Director of Wallisville Heritage Park in Chambers County, died early Tuesday morning in a Houston area hospital at the age of 60.
KSHN owner Bill Buchanan said on Wednesday that his staff is shocked and saddened after the death of Ladd, who was a Hardin native.
According to Buchanan, Ladd suffered a sudden devastating stroke on November 8th, which left him paralyzed on his left side.
Buchanan said Ladd was initially in very grave condition, but he survived and actually seemed to be improving, so much so that in recent days his doctors were discussing rehabilitation plans.
However, Buchanan said that about 1:30 Tuesday morning, Ladd’s condition suddenly plummeted, and by 4:00 that morning the family had made the difficult decision to remove life support. Buchanan said Ladd died immediately when life support was removed.
Buchanan said he hired Ladd in 1979, and although he left a few years later to head up the Wallisville Heritage Park, Ladd continued as a part-time employee for the past 35 years. Buchanan described Ladd as “A treasure”, and he said of Ladd “(He) was one of the most dependable people I’ve ever known”.
Buchanan said Ladd was a very important asset to KSHN, and he covered many meetings and other special events when the staff was stretched thin.
According to Buchanan, Ladd was alone his entire life until two years ago when he met, and soon after married a girl named Christi. Buchanan described her as one of the sweetest people you could ever meet, and he said she and Kevin were the perfect couple. Buchanan added “Unfortunately, they only had two years together, but it was two years that made Kevin the happiest in his life”.
Buchanan went on to say “He was the nicest guy. Never, not one single time did I ever hear anyone say anything negative about him, and I never heard him say anything negative about anybody”.
Funeral services for Kevin Randall Ladd will be held on Friday in Liberty under the direction of Allison Funeral Home.
Bill Buchanan, owner KSHN, also remembering Kevin Ladd:
"One of my earlier news directors here was a man by the name of Kevin Ladd with the unusual first name pronouncer of Kee-vin. He was with me for a few years but then was hired as Director, Historian and Archivist of an area Museum called Wallisville Heritage Park on I-10 in nearby Chambers County. From that day on he continued to work as a freelance writer reporter for our station and a close personal friend. He is extremely well known and affiliated with our station in various capacities for 35 years. He covered many of our local governmental body meetings. He was one of our most treasured citizens and in 2005 was named citizen of the year by the Liberty Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. On November 8th Kevin suffered a massive stroke and after several weeks of recovery at Memorial Hermann Hospital - Houston he had begun to improve. Doctors were reaching the point of releasing him to begin rehabilitation. On Monday morning of this week still in the Houston hospital Kevin suffered a major set back and throughout the day his conditioned worsened ...about 4pm he died at the age of 60. He has written books, been a newspaper reporter and of course his 35 year relationship with our station and 25 years as museum director. He was married to school teacher Christi Gruver Ladd. They had no children. He is survived by his wife, mother, and sister.
He was also one of the counties best volunteers on anything worthwhile."
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