16 Facts About Gene Leedy

Gene Leedy was an American architect based in Winter Haven, Florida.

Gene Leedy was a pioneer of the modern movement in Florida and later a founder of the Sarasota School of Architecture, whose members included Paul Rudolph, Victor Lundy, and others.

Gene Leedy is best known for his bold use of exposed structural systems of precast concrete, especially in long-span, "double-tee" structural elements, as well as enclosed courtyards, flat roofs, and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors.

Gene Leedy was born on February 6,1928, in Isaban, West Virginia to Cecil Hudgins Leedy and Ethyl Ferguson Leedy.

Gene Leedy's Father was a supervisor for a coal mining company, and Ethyl was a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse.

The family moved to Gainesville, Florida, and Gene Leedy's father opened a small restaurant.

At 16 years old, Gene Leedy attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree.

Gene Leedy's first son, Robert Hoge Gene Leedy, was born in Winter Haven on October 17,1956.

Leedy's daughter, Marjorie "Saffie" Leedy, was born on October 25,1962, and Leedy's second son, Gene Ingram Leedy, was born on November 1,1969.

Gene Leedy eventually died November 24,2018, at the age of 90, in Winter Haven, Florida and was survived by his four children.

Gene Leedy was good friends with Robert Parsons, Gram Parsons' adoptive father.

Gene Leedy is quoted multiple times discussing his friendship with the Parsons' in the novel about Gram Parsons life titled Twenty Thousand Roads: The Ballad of Gram Parsons and His Cosmic American Music.

Gene Leedy was selected as one of Architectural Record's successful young architects in 1965 with a published portfolio of his work.

Gene Leedy was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in 1992, and received the outstanding alumni award from the College of Architecture of the University of Florida in 1993.

Gene Leedy's work has been extensively published in the US and Europe and has received more than 50 architectural awards both nationally and statewide.

Gene Leedy was a design consultant for Alfred A Yee and Associates, Architects and Engineers, Honolulu, Hawaii for more than 25 years.