Leonard Selber
| Leonard Michael Selber (Shreveport businessman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Born | July 19, 1934 Shreveport, Louisiana | ||
| Died | November 13, 2020 (aged 86) Resting place: | ||
| Spouse | Mary Anne Blanchard Selber Two daughters: | ||
| Religion | Jewish | ||
| Military Service | |||
| Service/branch | United States Army | ||
Leonard Michael Selber (July 19, 1934 – November 13, 2020) was a businessman and civic figure in his native Shreveport, Louisiana.
Selber was one of two sons and a daughter of a Jewish couple, Aaron R. Selber, Sr. (1896–1968), a native of Baton Rouge,[1] and the former Frances Dreyfuss (1900–2000). He attended Creswell Elementary School and graduated from Clifton Ellis Byrd High School. He obtained a degree in Business Administration from Tulane University in New Orleans and then served in the United States Army before returning to Shreveport to work in his family retail business, Selber Bros., Inc., with his brother Aaron Selber, Jr. (1927-2013). From 1957 to 1987, he was the senior executive vice-president and a member of the board for the company. After Selber's was sold to Dillard's Department Stores, he worked as vice-chancellor of university relations for LSU-Shreveport and later as the development director for Loyola College Preparatory School in Shreveport. [2]
In civic matters, Selber served three times as the chairman of the Shreveport Metropolitan Planning Commission. He was also the chairman of the Shreveport Home Mortgage Authority, in which capacity, he worked on updating the municipal master plan through 2010. He directed three bond issues and chaired the development of the master plan for the Shreveport Parks and Recreation Department. As a result, the city acquired 1,700 acres of donated land for park use, including the popular Clyde Fant Parkway.[2]
Selber died of a lengthy illness at the age of eighty-six. He was survived by his wife of a half-century, the former Mary Anne Blanchard, and two daughters, Anne North Selber Jenkins and husband, Oliver, and Frances Blanchard Selber Knipp and husband, Greg, and four grandchildren, A private graveside service was held at Forest Park East Cemetery in Shreveport with Rabbi Dr. Jana L. De Benedetti of the B'nai Zion Congregation officiating.[2]
References
- ↑ Aaron Rosenbaum Selber Sr.. The Shreveport Times through findagrave.com (May 22, 1968). Retrieved on November 19, 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Leonard Michael Selber. The Shreveport Times (November 16, 2020). Retrieved on November 17, 2020.