In Memoriam:
Louise Gayheart Underwood
1936-2008
===================================================================================
Remembering Louise
Underwood: Champion of the disabled
.jpg)
It
is with great sadness that VOR reports the passing of our dear friend and
long-time VOR leader, Louise Underwood. On June 23, Louise passed away
unexpectedly in her Louisville, Kentucky home. Louise helped co-found VOR with
Marty Pratt and others 25 years ago. Until 2007, she served on VOR’s Board of
Directors and for nearly a decade served on VOR’s Legislative Committee, many
years as Chairperson.
It will come as no surprise to anyone who knew Louise that she was advocating
for people for mental retardation until the very end. As recently as the week of
June 16, she was in Washington, D.C. participating in VOR's Annual Meeting and
Washington Initiative. On Friday, June 20, she sent an e-mail to VOR reporting
that "We visited all our Kentucky people and I think they will co-sign onto HR
3995." On this same day, she was working in her Concerned Families of Hazelwood
office catching up, no doubt, on whatever state advocacy was set aside while she
attended the VOR events in Washington, D.C.
Joanne Kluck said it best, "Louise did for others right to the end. God bless
her worldly, high class heart."
Sam Golden, a fellow VOR Board Member and advocate who worked with Louise in VOR
for 24 of her 25 years, remarked,
"Marty Pratt held her in high regard. Her work in the
legislative field in the state and national government was legendary. I remember
one briefing session for the Washington Initiative where she practically swept
us off our feet with her cogent arguments on behalf of VOR's platform. If all of
us could do what Louise did, we would not need to fear our enemies."
Louise wrote recently that she felt VOR's role is to "help families to give
their family member a decent quality of life and be given the CHOICE of where
they receive those services. VOR is the hope for the future of our people."
In Louise's honor and memory, VOR will certainly continue to do all we can to
live up to this shared vision on behalf of all people with mental retardation
and developmental disabilities.
==============================================================================
Table of Contents
1. Champion of the Disabled, by Bob Heleringer
2. A Kentucky Tribute to Louise Underwood, by
Donovan Fornwalt for Rep. Jimmie Lee
3. From Carol Mueller, Spokesperson, Central
State Bingham Center ICF/MR Family Group (Louisville, KY).
4. From All members of DSI Supporters Inc. (Florida)
5. Louise’s memory will live forever, from Marian
Dunlap, VOR’s South Carolina Coordinator
6. A tribute to a Friend, by Lex Wells (CA), friend
and VOR Board Member
7. Obituary: Louise Gayheart Underwood
8. Other tributes and memories from around the country
==============================================================================
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Champion of the Disabled, by Bob Heleringer
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special to The Courier-Journal
Friday, June 27, 2008
In February 1977, I had been a lawyer less than six months when an urgent
telephone call came into my office.
" Bobby, this is Louise." "Louise" was Louise Underwood, the long-time
bookkeeper for my family's furniture store, Heleringer's.
"The state is closing Hazelwood," she said, "and moving our children out to
nursing homes. And they're doing it right now."
"Louise," I replied, "What and where is Hazelwood?"
I soon learned that Hazelwood was the old South Louisville sanitarium the state
had converted in the early 1970s to an ICF/MR (intermediate care facility for
the mentally retarded) for nearly 250 severe/profoundly retarded adults. Louise
had a brother-in-law, Ronnie Underwood, who lived there.
Unthinkable but true, state officials had given no advance notice to the
parents/families about Hazelwood's closing or the ultimate destinations of their
loved ones' transfer. Galvanized into action by Louise, and after a law partner
had kindly given me directions to the federal courthouse, I soon found myself
standing before U.S. District Judge Thomas Ballantine, who, after a hearing,
granted our motion for a temporary restraining order, stopping Hazelwood's
closure, and then ordered the immediate return of those residents who had
already been sent to nursing homes. For the first time, and certainly not the
last, Louise had saved the day by packing a federal courtroom, at a pivotal
hearing, with anxious family members of Hazelwood's residents.
With Hazelwood saved, at least temporarily, Louise endeavored to prevent a
similar crisis in the future by getting a bill through the 1978 session of the
General Assembly. The passage of Senate Bill 285 represents some of the most
progressive legislation ever adopted by Kentucky's legislature. It provided due
process rights to parents/guardians of ICF/MR residents, including a right to
prior notice of any intended transfer, a right to attend interdisciplinary team
meetings (often the prelude to a transfer), a right to legal counsel and a right
to appeal adverse decisions to court.
A copy of this model act, signed by all 38 members of the state Senate, has hung
proudly in my office for 30 years. I was an aide at the time on the staff of the
Republican Senate caucus and, in amazement, had watched it all happen.
Again, it was Louise Underwood's unabashed, tenacious drive that provided the
expert testimony, and who rallied the troops that filled every committee room
and the Senate and House galleries to get the bill passed.
Thus began a 30-year odyssey which ended sadly this week with her sudden passing
-- a virtual one-woman tsunami who took up the cudgels, not just for Hazelwood's
residents, but for every disabled citizen of our commonwealth. Not blessed with
children of her own, Louise simply adopted every retarded adult citizen in
Kentucky and became their champion, their voice.
And what a voice!
When governors, U.S. senators, cabinet secretaries and committee chairmen were
told "Louise" was on the phone, they never had to ask " Louise who?" If we
legislators were the quarterbacks "executing the game plan," Louise was the
resourceful offensive coordinator up in the press box. She, and her allies, the
families, ensured that every rally in Frankfort, and every good piece of
legislation or budget allocation, had literally a cast of thousands on hand for
the stretch drive. Louise's boundless determination was often reflected in more
than one harried legislator who would plead with me: "Heleringer, just tell me
how to vote -- and would you please ask Mrs. Underwood to stop calling?"
Fiercely proud of her Eastern Kentucky heritage (she will be buried at "home" in
Hazard), she -- like most of the leaders from that region -- was never shy or
apologetic about her passion or her, at times, bellicose demeanor when
confronted with bureaucratic intransigence. In the Capitol, she had all the
subtlety of Gen. George Patton sweeping through Germany's Ruhr valley. And she
achieved similar results.
Name any current program for the disabled community and (a) it was probably
enacted in the last 30 years and (b) had her wise hands all over it. The state's
four ICF/MRs (Hazelwood, Outwood, Oakwood and the Bingham Unit at Central State
Hospital) were all defended, maintained and expanded.
Smaller, eight-bed ICF/MR units were created, funded and located all over the
state. SCL (supports for community living) grants increased to alleviate the
omnipresent waiting lists. The Supported Employment, Supported Living and
Personal Care Attendant programs were initiated and enhanced on her watch --
wonderful success stories all.
And now she's gone.
But Louise Underwood's immense legacy will endure long after her passing. She
made a seismic difference in thousands of lives across the commonwealth, in the
buildings and programs she shepherded so inspiringly from dream to reality --
all on behalf of her special people, who had no power, no influence, no respect,
no consideration, indeed, no chance, until her full-throated, firebell-in-the-night
voice demanded that public officials be accountable for all of our citizens,
including our disabled.
And why? What drove this dynamic woman to such Herculean lengths and efforts?
I'll always believe Louise Underwood was consumed by the kind of commitment that
Robert Kennedy once described: "… to remember … that those who live with us are
our brothers, that they share with us the same short moment of life; that they
seek -- as we do -- nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose
and happiness, winning what satisfaction and fulfillment they can."
Well done, Louise. Well done, thy good and faithful servant.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. A Kentucky Tribute to Louise Underwood, by Donovan Fornwalt for Rep. Jimmie
Lee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rep. Jimmie Lee of the Kentucky State Legislature, and whose name joins Louise’s
in the “Underwood and Lee Clinic” at the Hazelwood ICF/MR, asked Donovan
Fornwalt, Louise’s friend and fellow advocate, to help prepare some remarks
about Louise’s life. Rep. Lee plans to introduce a Kentucky House Resolution
honoring Louise’s lifetime charitable advocacy on behalf of Kentuckians with
mental retardation. The following is the beautiful tribute written Donovan.
In Memoriam: Louise Gayheart Underwood
Louise Gayheart Underwood, the guardian angel for thousands of persons with
mental retardation and an unflinching advocate & hero to their families, passed
away Monday morning, June 23rd.
Louise is survived by her loving husband Samuel Underwood of Louisville. Born in
coal country, the town of Dwarf in Perry County, Louise learned early on from
her Daddy (Chester Gayheart) how to navigate the rough waters of mountain
politics. Miss Louise would watch “Big Ches”, chairman of the local Democratic
Party, swap stories (and favors) with Happy Chandler & the Courthouse gang. Not
only was Louise dyed in the wool of politics, more importantly her Daddy taught
her how to be a good Christian. From the get go, Miss Louise had a heart for the
less fortunate. When local miners went on strike and they were desperate for
food & wages, Louise, her sister & 2 brothers would fill baskets with goods from
her Daddy’s grocery and deliver them to the miners’ families.
During one memorable strike, the Gayheart grocery was nearly out of food & Big
Ches called the family together. “We’ve got to do one of two things: we’ve got
to close it, or we’re going to have to mortgage the house to buy more
groceries.” Word got out, and every single miner that owed money to Big Ches,
paid their debt.
So many hundreds of families have been helped by Louise Underwood, it is
impossible to ever repay that debt. How do you repay a woman who has saved your
profoundly retarded child from a life of abuse & neglect? How do repay a woman
who by virtue of raw nerve, energy and compassion was able to take on Governors
& Cabinet Secretaries and keep the Hazelwood Hospital open…when it seemed all
hope was lost?
No one could “raise Hell” like Louise Underwood. And God forbid you ever lied to
her. She was tough as nails. That’s why she was known as “The Velvet Hammer”.
Who else would drive 300 miles to a nursing home, befriend the good nurses, hide
for hours in broom closets, to investigate chronic & deadly abuse of patients
with mental retardation? No one has the guts to do such things nowadays. But
Louise would & could. She would do anything to protect people with mental
retardation. Hundreds of children are alive today because of Mrs. Underwood’s
tenacity, grace & unyielding Christian love.
A feature article on Louise, entitled “The Velvet Hammer” will appear in the
July 2008 edition of Exceptional Parent Magazine. It details Louise’s untiring
efforts to establish a developmental dentistry clinic at Hazelwood Hospital.
Despite huge obstacles, Louise’s advocacy prevailed and the clinic opened in
2002. Since its debut, the clinic has received 7 research awards, published
studies in medical journals across the globe, & established a renowned post
graduate dental fellowship program. The clinic now serves 800 people. Dr. Tim
Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics International, states “It is because …of
their ability to produce some of the best health outcomes that I have ever seen
that I support their efforts to expand the services of the Underwood and Lee
Clinic.”
Many may not know that Louise was a strong advocate for community services, not
just facilities. She was a co-founder of the Coalition for Quality & Choice—a
coalition that included thousands of facility and community advocates. It was
and is a unique partnership, and it was made possible because Louise was willing
to take that leap of faith.
Louise’s last advocacy project was finally, after three years of effort,
approved by the 2008 General Assembly. She was the heart & soul of the project
that will build new group homes for the residents of the Bingham Unit in
Louisville. This project will also build a psychiatric, outpatient medical &
expanded dental clinic to serve upwards of 4000 patients.
Despite a tough economic climate, Louise expects us to deliver on our promises.
And the Guardian Angel, the Velvet Hammer will be watching. Let us this day
recommit to honoring her legacy & taking on this moral imperative to help those
who are severely disabled & desperately in need.
Mothers, fathers, sisters & brothers who care for loved ones with severe
disabilities would call Mrs. Underwood at all hours of the night…desperate for
help and for direction. Louise knew how to navigate the bureaucracy and she knew
how to influence the politicians. She gave them shelter from the storm. She was
a safe harbor and a fiercely devoted friend and advocate.
Louise did not suffer fools kindly. She was rough and she was honest. And she
loved people with mental retardation with all her heart. In many respects, she
never left the mountains. She never left those coal miners’ families who needed
a basket of food to get by. How many people do you know devote their entire
lives to helping people who have no voice, no power, and often no one to love
them and protect them? How many people? A dozen? Probably fewer than that.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky has lost a giant in the field of mental
retardation. We love you Louise. We will miss you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. From Carol Mueller, Spokesperson, Central State Bingham Center ICF/MR Family
Group (Louisville, KY).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Louise Underwood entered my life in 1999, after I was forcibly plunged into the
world of advocacy. My family had received a phone call telling us that the state
was poised to announce the closing of the Louisville ICF/MR where my sister had
lived for twenty years, with—surprise!—no thought as to alternative living
arrangements or consequences. Someone had received a tip from the media, and
then tipped off the families. Guess who that someone was?
Overnight I became familiar with Louise Underwood, in that intimate way one
becomes familiar with people who keep us alive. That was Louise: the person who
kept things alive. She kept our children and brothers and sisters alive and,
therefore, kept us alive. She kept dignity and respect alive. She kept the world
of mental retardation alive and in the faces of the lawmaker, the media, and the
public.
Louise was always in someone’s face, delivering her unvarnished message to
whoever needed to hear it at the time—governors, senators, kings or commoners,
they were all the same to Louise. How often have we all wrung our hands over the
system, bemoaned the bureaucracy, agonized over the government? Louise never
wasted time with that. She, like Muhammad, went straight to the Mountains for a
little face time with the Appalachian gal.
Louise laughingly called herself “that short, fat, country woman.” Her
coal-country accent was pretty thick, her clothes were inexpensive, her grammar
wasn’t the prettiest, and her spelling was atrocious. Anyone would talk to her,
and everyone did, because no one was threatened by her—at first. Then, when
certain politicians found out that they’d been had, that she had moles in the
Cabinet that went back thirty years, they still talked to her, because they had
to. Everyone took Louise’s calls.
The way that Louise would talk to high officials, and they way that they would
tolerate it, always simultaneously amazed and horrified me. Many were the times
that I witnessed Louise threaten powerful bureaucrats with the wrath of God if
they ever lied to her. I was always thinking she had gone too far and wondering
how she got away with it. Her information pipelines and confidential sources in
the Kentucky Capitol were pretty common knowledge, along with the fact that she
knew the locations of all the secret closets and all their skeletons. I always
wondered how much of it was true. I guess it didn’t matter, did it? It worked.
What Louise accomplished was nothing short of phenomenal. The highest paid
lobbyists envied her audience, her phone directory, her ability to access power
immediately. The slickest, richest, and most pedigreed players watched her in
awe, some with great resentment, but many with increasing respect. Louise put
herself front and center in their faces, with all her flaws, and they were
forced to look at her, and when they looked at her, they looked at our children.
Our children live, as Louise lives.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. From All members of DSI Supporters Inc. (Florida)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
There was no task, no matter the size, that Louise did not tackle with
enthusiasm and expertise. She delivered and the Community was the beneficiary.
The void will be significant, but it will be the ultimate tribute to Mrs
Underwood if all of us try our best to fill the gap. Everyone of us has our role
to play. We'll just have to work harder.
May her memory live on as a blessing to those who loved her and were enriched by
her kind, giving spirit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Louise’s memory will live forever, From Marian Dunlap, VOR’s South Carolina
Coordinator
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I just read the news about Louise Underwood, and needless to say I am
heartbroken! Out of all of the VOR members I met several years ago in
Washington, Louise to me was the glue that held VOR together. We had many long
talks in which I discovered that we were a lot alike! She would go to any length
to help people with mental retardation, and it was evident in the many ways she
bravely advocated for those who were unable to advocate for themselves.
Not only did she advocate for people in her state, but for many years she
advocated for people in my state of South Carolina. Very recently in Washington,
DC she visited South Carolina Legislators on my behalf, and especially on the
behalf of people living in South Carolina who have mental
retardation/disabilities.
Louise can never be replaced, but those of us who are left can try harder to be
more like Louise, to learn from her many years of expert advocating. We too,
should never to be hesitant in speaking up to make a better life for all people
with disabilities who are unable to speak for themselves.
Louise's memory will live forever.
Marian S. Dunlap, President
SCPADD (SC Parents and Advocates for the Developmentally Disabled)
VOR State Coordinator
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. A Tribute to a Friend, by Lex Wells (CA), friend and VOR Board Member
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A dark heavy cloud dropped over our nation today.
Like smoke mixed with volumes of sadness choking out my thoughts and breath.
Tearing up my eyes, making my heart rapidly accelerate.
A cloud silently moving through the air carrying with it the news that Louise
Underwood had died.
For a moment I was suffocating from the thought that I had just lost a true
friend. A mentor. A close comrade in the fight for the rights of the disabled.
A true General in the war for civil rights for all people.
She was one of the most outgoing, dynamic, warm and friendly persons I have ever
known.
The way she lived her life and fought for all people with disabilities has been
an inspiration, not only to me, but to every person she has touched.
If she was your friend, she was a wonderful friend and was always there for you.
She made the lives of the developmentally disabled more enhanced.
She made Hazelwood a better community to live in.
She was a problem solver and was always looking to find a solution.
She was very level headed and had a lot of respect for your opinion if she
thought it was fair and just.
Her leadership in government and throughout the community, serving her friends
and the disabled, was always with total perfection.
The thousands of hours of volunteer work that she did throughout her life was
absolutely remarkable.
Some people stated that Louise had changed these last few years, that she was
different.
Different, I agree, for throughout her difficulties with her health, she saw the
true light.
The true meaning of life, a clearer vision, of what was happening all around
her.
It was during these last few years that we was more open, very honest, speaking
the truth and driving home the clear, hard facts. Facing the issues.
Calling it like it really was.
For the love in her heart to do the right thing was SO big.
For the love of the disabled was SO strong.
For the love of her friends was SO great.
That she never took a step backwards.
She never stumbled on the front lines.
She never weakened under fire.
Her eyes were always on target.
Never ducking out from the problems, always answering the questions.
She really was a General – a leader of Mankind.
A person like no other that I will see in my lifetime.
She truly was one of a kind, and I thank God for:
Her message.
Her presents.
Her wisdom.
Her love.
For these gifts which I have received from her will always be treasured
throughout my life.
Goodnight good friend and thank you for entering my life and always being there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Obituary: Louise Gayheart Underwood
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published in The Courier-Journal, 6/25/2008
UNDERWOOD, LOUISE GAYHEART, 72, of Portland, passed away Monday, June 23, 2008.
She was a native of Perry County, KY and former head bookkeeper for Heleringers
Furniture. She was the president of Concerned Families of Hazelwood and a
liaison between State Government and Hazelwood ICF/MR. Over the years, she has
worked closely with five governors and earned the respect of newly elected
officials. Many times she has pulled strings to halt legislation that would have
undermined quality of life for people with disabilities. As special projects
director and "the voice" of Hazelwood Center, she has advocated for thousands of
individuals and their families and she has helped transform Kentucky into a
national leader in mental retardation services. Dr. Henry Hood, director of the
Underwood and Lee Clinic, said "I have never met anyone that holds a candle to
Louise Underwood." The Velvet Hammer, according to Dr. Hood, still makes
politicians "quake in their boots." He asked her how she swayed them year after
year and she answered "Simple, you just don't let up." She was preceded in death
by parents, Chester Arthur and Mollie Everage Gayheart; and brothers, Bill and
Dickie Gayheart. She is survived by her husband, Samuel H. Underwood; sister,
Juanita Gayheart Duff; nieces, Barbara Ann Dixon, Michelle Dixon, Natasha Dixon
Marlow (Todd) and Donna Kaye Gayheart; and nephews, Elijah "Eli" Dixon, Jack
Gayheart (Judy) and William Brook Miller. Her funeral service will be held 11
a.m. Saturday at Engle-Walker Funeral Home, 301 East Main Street, Hazard KY,
followed by burial in Engle Cemetery in Trace Branch. Visitation will be held 18
p.m. Wednesday at J.B. Ratterman & Sons, 2114 West Market Street, Louisville,
and 5-9 p.m. Friday at Engle-Walker Funeral Home, Hazard.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Other tributes and memories from around the country
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Illinois
Louise was a remarkable woman. She was with VOR I think from the very beginning.
I know Marty Pratt held her in high regard. Her work in the legislative field in
the state and national government was legendary. I remember one briefing session
for the Washington Initiative where she practically swept us off our feet with
her cogent arguments on behalf of VOR’s platform. If all of us could do what
Louise did, we would not need to fear our enemies. Sam
South Carolina
I only met Louise at the VOR meeting I attended a couple of years ago and even
so, I have heard of her thru Marian Dunlap. What an amazing amount of work she
did in her lifetime. She is someone to emulate and she will be missed. My
sympathies to her family and the entire family of disabled persons. Nancy Banov
(SC)
Florida
Thank you for sending on Louise Underwood's biography and tribute. I never met
her, but she inspires all of us to do as best we can to help others who are not
as fortunate as we are. Rosalind Merritt (FL)
Her story is inspiring and one of righteousness. A force has been silenced. We
all must work harder. David Engels (FL)
Kentucky
We are greatly saddened by the loss of such a big voice in the disability
community. Henry and I owe everything that we have developed to Louise, and have
vowed, along with a group of local advocates and families, to carry on the work
that she started. I can almost hear Louise’s voice telling us now….. “Well boys,
it’s time for you to fly on your own.” And, we will do just that. She was more
than just an advocate, she was a mentor and a friend. What I know she would want
from us, is to fill the void that is left by her passing with our own strength
and our own voice. Luckily, because she touched so many people, that collective
strength and voice will be multiplied as we turn our loss into greater momentum
for the future – this is exactly what she would want. As for Henry and I, we
will be there to carry on the fight to the best of our ability. Matt Holder,
Executive Director, AADMD (KY).
California
So much good wrapped in person ! My generation has lost another of our heroes.
While she is lost to us all, she is now with the angels. I was only able briefly
to watch and listen, but even so, I was able to catch her essence and to see her
total commitment body and soul to serve in making God's commission a reality in
her time here among us. I know He is pleased. Louise Underwood embodied the
highest and best in a world that today is out of kilter. She had that saving
grace that is so rare in an ordinary and humble person. We will not soon see her
like again. Hellen Hawkins (CA)
Maryland
Wow - what a great lady! I am honored to have known her - Mark Engberg (MD)
Nevada
The article in the most recent VOR newsletter about
Louise Underwood was so touching that even though I didn't know about her until
reading it, I want to add my tribute to the one you are putting together. Louise
must have indeed been a formidable force in advocating for the disabled people
in Kentucky. California once had a champion like her in the person of Frank
Lanterman, and my son is fortunate to have benefitted by the legislation that he
was successful in getting passed back in the 70s. If we only had more like them.
Thank you for the article and for thank you for all the wonderful work you do
for retarded citizens [Follow up letter: I am still sad and
touched by her passing and everything she did for the disabled. I loved her
without even knowing her and know she will be missed forever by everyone whose
lives she touched and made a difference in.]-- Fay Clinton (NV)
===================================================================================
In Memoriam:
Louise Gayheart Underwood
1936-2008
