Lawrence Barnett Leaves Legacy of Integrity, Leadership, and Caring
Lawrence R. Barnett, Ohio State alumnus, entertainment industry executive, and long-time supporter of the arts at Ohio State, passed away on June 11 surrounded by his family.
The Orrville native worked his way through school at Ohio State by leading and booking the "Larry Barnett Orchestra," developing the skills that would serve him well in his career as an executive of some of the most prestigiouus entertainment companies in the world. From 1936 to 2000, Barnett was an executive and served on the boards of such organizations as Music Corporation of America (MCA), General Artist Corporation, Piper Aircraft Corporation, Warner Communications, United Television, Inc., and Chris-Craft Industries, Inc.
Barnett and his late wife Isabel, supported Ohio State students in the arts for many years through the Barnett Fellowship for graduate students in Art Education, the bi-annual Barnett Arts and Public Policy Symposium, and the Barnett Distinguished Visiting Lecturers series. He recently committed $6 million to the College of Arts and Sciences to establish the multi-disciplinary Lawrence and Isabel Barnett Center for Integrated Arts and Enterprise and to support extensive renovations to Sullivant Hall.
"I simply cannot underscore enough what the longstanding support of Larry Barnett has meant for The Ohio State University," said E. Gordon Gee, president. "His impassioned generosity bolsters the work of our arts students through the Barnett Fellowships and the Barnett Symposium speaker series. Larry Barnett's legacy at Ohio State is palpable and enduring, and the university community will forever be in his debt."
