Joe Lenhard, a former U.S. Department of Energy research director and founder of the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee, died Friday of COVID-19, a family member said. He was 91.
Lenhard died Friday evening at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge
Lenhard was a research director for the U.S. Department of Energy in Oak Ridge, and he had oversight of DOE research activities and served as the federal contracting officer for major federal facilities in the city, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, according to his LinkedIn page. He worked for DOE for about 32 years, from 1957 to 1989.
Lenhard served as president of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce in 1992, and he helped found CROET in 1994. CROET helps find ways to re-use former federal property, not just real estate but also equipment and other federal assets.
Lenhard loved the natural world, and his daughter Andrea said she became a biologist and veterinarian because of him. Her father used to take them on long rambles in the woods, she said, and he would pick up animals like snakes and frogs and tell the children what he knew about them.
“He loved nature, and that was very infectious,” she said.
Andrea said Oak Ridge was very important to her father.
“He always wanted to promote Oak Ridge and take care of Oak Ridge,” she said. “He was very devoted to the city.”
Lenhard could often be found walking in local grocery stores. He was very conscious of his health, Andrea said, and he would walk every day at stores that included Walmart, Kroger, and Food City.
A statement from the family of Lenhard’s daughter Michele said Joe Lenhard was very supportive of higher education.
“He gave substantial sums of money to the University of Tennessee and Roane State Community College,” the statement said. “Roane State dedicated a room to Joseph Lenhard for his outstanding contributions. Joe came from an economically disproportionate background and saw the benefit of higher education. He wanted to provide educational opportunity for the young people of East Tennessee.”
Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch said Lenhard was his friend for more than 25 years.
“The City of Oak Ridge and the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Operations were equally blessed to have Joe as their champion from the time he arrived here in 1957,” Gooch said Saturday. “Whether it was in his role as DOE Director of Research for Oak Ridge facilities, civic leader, or advocate for re-industrialization, his integrity, intellect, and passion for his work helped make Oak Ridge great. We are better people, our community has prospered, our national security has been strengthened, and ORNL’s world leadership in research has been advanced due to Joe’s dedicated work. On behalf of Judy, myself, and the City of Oak Ridge, I extend our condolences to the Lenhard family with sincere thanks for sharing Joe with us.”
Former Oak Ridge Mayor David Bradshaw said there was a small group that founded CROET, but Lenhard led the charge.
Bradshaw, who served on the CROET board with Lenhard, said he would pick Joe up at his house for CROET meetings at East Tennessee Technology Park after Lenhard stopped driving. Lenhard had opinions that were just as strong then as the day the organization was founded, Bradshaw said.
“I just admire Joe for his commitment to the community from the beginning to the end,” Bradshaw said. “I didn’t always agree with Joe, but I always respected him. Our community will definitely miss him. He loved his community, that’s for sure. He was definitely a servant-leader.”
Heritage Center, also known as ETTP or the former K-25 site, is one of the sites where CROET is re-industrializing. The center posted this message on Saturday: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of CROET’s founding chairman, long-time board member, and avid supporter Joe Lenhard. He was a great man and will be greatly missed!”
Former Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan served as president of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce after Lenhard.
Lenhard was like a mentor because he had experience and had worked for DOE, Beehan said. At the time, Beehan had only been in Oak Ridge two years. Lenhard made sure Beehan knew the town’s history and how to best represent the business community and DOE.
“He was very helpful,” Beehan said.
He said Lenhard was supportive when he ran for office, and one of the first checks Beehan’s campaign received was an unsolicited donation from Lenhard.
Lenhard would show up every Friday morning, for as long as he could, at meetings of the East Tennessee Economic Council, Beehan said.
Oak Ridge historian, author, and photographer Ray Smith said Lenhard was his neighbor. Smith said he would take Lenhard to ETEC meetings and also to Rotary Club meetings.
Lenhard had a very prominent position with DOE for years, Smith said.
“I enjoyed being his neighbor,” Smith said. “He was an interesting person with a lot of history of Oak Ridge.”
Lenhard helped Smith with his “Historically Speaking” column and gave him a lot of stories, Smith said.
“Joe has forgotten more about Oak Ridge than the rest of us will ever know,” said Tennessee Senator Ken Yager, a Kingston Republican. “I will miss his welcome when I would show up for ETEC. RIP, my friend.”
Jim Campbell, ETEC president, said Lenhard was board chair when he was hired in 1995. Lenhard was always passionate about the work, the people, and the opportunities that were available because of what is happening in Oak Ridge and what might be possible in the future, Campbell said.
Lenhard was a “great cheerleader for Oak Ridge, and he will be missed by all who knew him well,” Campbell said.
He said Lenhard was a significant part of the team that remade the Roane-Anderson Economic Council as the East Tennessee Economic Council in the early 1990s. Issues at the time, after the end of the Cold War, included how to preserve missions at federal sites in Oak Ridge and complete cleanup work. There was also the challenge of what to do with K-25 site, which was shut down in the mid-1980s. Cleanup of that site will be mostly complete this year.
The building blocks were created in the early 1990s with help from people like Lenhard, Campbell said.
“They put in place a pathway to success, and it’s worked,” Campbell said.
Among the success stories he cited were the building of the Spallation Neutron Source at ORNL, the rebuilding of Y-12, the K-25 cleanup, and the creation of industrial spaces.
On his LinkedIn page, Lenhard said he graduated from East Detroit High School, where he participated in football and track, in 1947. He served on an attack cargo ship in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1956. He had bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nuclear physics from Vanderbilt University.
In August, Lenhard was recognized for more than 30 years as a member of the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club.
Lenhard died Friday evening at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge
Lenhard was a research director for the U.S. Department of Energy in Oak Ridge, and he had oversight of DOE research activities and served as the federal contracting officer for major federal facilities in the city, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, according to his LinkedIn page. He worked for DOE for about 32 years, from 1957 to 1989.
Lenhard served as president of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce in 1992, and he helped found CROET in 1994. CROET helps find ways to re-use former federal property, not just real estate but also equipment and other federal assets.
Lenhard loved the natural world, and his daughter Andrea said she became a biologist and veterinarian because of him. Her father used to take them on long rambles in the woods, she said, and he would pick up animals like snakes and frogs and tell the children what he knew about them.
“He loved nature, and that was very infectious,” she said.
Andrea said Oak Ridge was very important to her father.
“He always wanted to promote Oak Ridge and take care of Oak Ridge,” she said. “He was very devoted to the city.”
Lenhard could often be found walking in local grocery stores. He was very conscious of his health, Andrea said, and he would walk every day at stores that included Walmart, Kroger, and Food City.
A statement from the family of Lenhard’s daughter Michele said Joe Lenhard was very supportive of higher education.
“He gave substantial sums of money to the University of Tennessee and Roane State Community College,” the statement said. “Roane State dedicated a room to Joseph Lenhard for his outstanding contributions. Joe came from an economically disproportionate background and saw the benefit of higher education. He wanted to provide educational opportunity for the young people of East Tennessee.”
Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch said Lenhard was his friend for more than 25 years.
“The City of Oak Ridge and the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Operations were equally blessed to have Joe as their champion from the time he arrived here in 1957,” Gooch said Saturday. “Whether it was in his role as DOE Director of Research for Oak Ridge facilities, civic leader, or advocate for re-industrialization, his integrity, intellect, and passion for his work helped make Oak Ridge great. We are better people, our community has prospered, our national security has been strengthened, and ORNL’s world leadership in research has been advanced due to Joe’s dedicated work. On behalf of Judy, myself, and the City of Oak Ridge, I extend our condolences to the Lenhard family with sincere thanks for sharing Joe with us.”
Former Oak Ridge Mayor David Bradshaw said there was a small group that founded CROET, but Lenhard led the charge.
Bradshaw, who served on the CROET board with Lenhard, said he would pick Joe up at his house for CROET meetings at East Tennessee Technology Park after Lenhard stopped driving. Lenhard had opinions that were just as strong then as the day the organization was founded, Bradshaw said.
“I just admire Joe for his commitment to the community from the beginning to the end,” Bradshaw said. “I didn’t always agree with Joe, but I always respected him. Our community will definitely miss him. He loved his community, that’s for sure. He was definitely a servant-leader.”
Heritage Center, also known as ETTP or the former K-25 site, is one of the sites where CROET is re-industrializing. The center posted this message on Saturday: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of CROET’s founding chairman, long-time board member, and avid supporter Joe Lenhard. He was a great man and will be greatly missed!”
Former Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan served as president of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce after Lenhard.
Lenhard was like a mentor because he had experience and had worked for DOE, Beehan said. At the time, Beehan had only been in Oak Ridge two years. Lenhard made sure Beehan knew the town’s history and how to best represent the business community and DOE.
“He was very helpful,” Beehan said.
He said Lenhard was supportive when he ran for office, and one of the first checks Beehan’s campaign received was an unsolicited donation from Lenhard.
Lenhard would show up every Friday morning, for as long as he could, at meetings of the East Tennessee Economic Council, Beehan said.
Oak Ridge historian, author, and photographer Ray Smith said Lenhard was his neighbor. Smith said he would take Lenhard to ETEC meetings and also to Rotary Club meetings.
Lenhard had a very prominent position with DOE for years, Smith said.
“I enjoyed being his neighbor,” Smith said. “He was an interesting person with a lot of history of Oak Ridge.”
Lenhard helped Smith with his “Historically Speaking” column and gave him a lot of stories, Smith said.
“Joe has forgotten more about Oak Ridge than the rest of us will ever know,” said Tennessee Senator Ken Yager, a Kingston Republican. “I will miss his welcome when I would show up for ETEC. RIP, my friend.”
Jim Campbell, ETEC president, said Lenhard was board chair when he was hired in 1995. Lenhard was always passionate about the work, the people, and the opportunities that were available because of what is happening in Oak Ridge and what might be possible in the future, Campbell said.
Lenhard was a “great cheerleader for Oak Ridge, and he will be missed by all who knew him well,” Campbell said.
He said Lenhard was a significant part of the team that remade the Roane-Anderson Economic Council as the East Tennessee Economic Council in the early 1990s. Issues at the time, after the end of the Cold War, included how to preserve missions at federal sites in Oak Ridge and complete cleanup work. There was also the challenge of what to do with K-25 site, which was shut down in the mid-1980s. Cleanup of that site will be mostly complete this year.
The building blocks were created in the early 1990s with help from people like Lenhard, Campbell said.
“They put in place a pathway to success, and it’s worked,” Campbell said.
Among the success stories he cited were the building of the Spallation Neutron Source at ORNL, the rebuilding of Y-12, the K-25 cleanup, and the creation of industrial spaces.
On his LinkedIn page, Lenhard said he graduated from East Detroit High School, where he participated in football and track, in 1947. He served on an attack cargo ship in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1956. He had bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nuclear physics from Vanderbilt University.
In August, Lenhard was recognized for more than 30 years as a member of the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club.
Joe Lenhard, a former U.S. Department of Energy research director and founder of the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee, died Friday of COVID-19, a family member said. He was 91.
Lenhard died Friday evening at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge
Lenhard was a research director for the U.S. Department of Energy in Oak Ridge, and he had oversight of DOE research activities and served as the federal contracting officer for major federal facilities in the city, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, according to his LinkedIn page. He worked for DOE for about 32 years, from 1957 to 1989.
Lenhard served as president of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce in 1992, and he helped found CROET in 1994. CROET helps find ways to re-use former federal property, not just real estate but also equipment and other federal assets.
Lenhard loved the natural world, and his daughter Andrea said she became a biologist and veterinarian because of him. Her father used to take them on long rambles in the woods, she said, and he would pick up animals like snakes and frogs and tell the children what he knew about them.
“He loved nature, and that was very infectious,” she said.
Andrea said Oak Ridge was very important to her father.
“He always wanted to promote Oak Ridge and take care of Oak Ridge,” she said. “He was very devoted to the city.”
Lenhard could often be found walking in local grocery stores. He was very conscious of his health, Andrea said, and he would walk every day at stores that included Walmart, Kroger, and Food City.
A statement from the family of Lenhard’s daughter Michele said Joe Lenhard was very supportive of higher education.
“He gave substantial sums of money to the University of Tennessee and Roane State Community College,” the statement said. “Roane State dedicated a room to Joseph Lenhard for his outstanding contributions. Joe came from an economically disproportionate background and saw the benefit of higher education. He wanted to provide educational opportunity for the young people of East Tennessee.”
Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch said Lenhard was his friend for more than 25 years.
“The City of Oak Ridge and the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Operations were equally blessed to have Joe as their champion from the time he arrived here in 1957,” Gooch said Saturday. “Whether it was in his role as DOE Director of Research for Oak Ridge facilities, civic leader, or advocate for re-industrialization, his integrity, intellect, and passion for his work helped make Oak Ridge great. We are better people, our community has prospered, our national security has been strengthened, and ORNL’s world leadership in research has been advanced due to Joe’s dedicated work. On behalf of Judy, myself, and the City of Oak Ridge, I extend our condolences to the Lenhard family with sincere thanks for sharing Joe with us.”
Former Oak Ridge Mayor David Bradshaw said there was a small group that founded CROET, but Lenhard led the charge.
Bradshaw, who served on the CROET board with Lenhard, said he would pick Joe up at his house for CROET meetings at East Tennessee Technology Park after Lenhard stopped driving. Lenhard had opinions that were just as strong then as the day the organization was founded, Bradshaw said.
“I just admire Joe for his commitment to the community from the beginning to the end,” Bradshaw said. “I didn’t always agree with Joe, but I always respected him. Our community will definitely miss him. He loved his community, that’s for sure. He was definitely a servant-leader.”
Heritage Center, also known as ETTP or the former K-25 site, is one of the sites where CROET is re-industrializing. The center posted this message on Saturday: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of CROET’s founding chairman, long-time board member, and avid supporter Joe Lenhard. He was a great man and will be greatly missed!”
Former Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan served as president of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce after Lenhard.
Lenhard was like a mentor because he had experience and had worked for DOE, Beehan said. At the time, Beehan had only been in Oak Ridge two years. Lenhard made sure Beehan knew the town’s history and how to best represent the business community and DOE.
“He was very helpful,” Beehan said.
He said Lenhard was supportive when he ran for office, and one of the first checks Beehan’s campaign received was an unsolicited donation from Lenhard.
Lenhard would show up every Friday morning, for as long as he could, at meetings of the East Tennessee Economic Council, Beehan said.
Oak Ridge historian, author, and photographer Ray Smith said Lenhard was his neighbor. Smith said he would take Lenhard to ETEC meetings and also to Rotary Club meetings.
Lenhard had a very prominent position with DOE for years, Smith said.
“I enjoyed being his neighbor,” Smith said. “He was an interesting person with a lot of history of Oak Ridge.”
Lenhard helped Smith with his “Historically Speaking” column and gave him a lot of stories, Smith said.
“Joe has forgotten more about Oak Ridge than the rest of us will ever know,” said Tennessee Senator Ken Yager, a Kingston Republican. “I will miss his welcome when I would show up for ETEC. RIP, my friend.”
Jim Campbell, ETEC president, said Lenhard was board chair when he was hired in 1995. Lenhard was always passionate about the work, the people, and the opportunities that were available because of what is happening in Oak Ridge and what might be possible in the future, Campbell said.
Lenhard was a “great cheerleader for Oak Ridge, and he will be missed by all who knew him well,” Campbell said.
He said Lenhard was a significant part of the team that remade the Roane-Anderson Economic Council as the East Tennessee Economic Council in the early 1990s. Issues at the time, after the end of the Cold War, included how to preserve missions at federal sites in Oak Ridge and complete cleanup work. There was also the challenge of what to do with K-25 site, which was shut down in the mid-1980s. Cleanup of that site will be mostly complete this year.
The building blocks were created in the early 1990s with help from people like Lenhard, Campbell said.
“They put in place a pathway to success, and it’s worked,” Campbell said.
Among the success stories he cited were the building of the Spallation Neutron Source at ORNL, the rebuilding of Y-12, the K-25 cleanup, and the creation of industrial spaces.
On his LinkedIn page, Lenhard said he graduated from East Detroit High School, where he participated in football and track, in 1947. He served on an attack cargo ship in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1956. He had bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nuclear physics from Vanderbilt University.
In August, Lenhard was recognized for more than 30 years as a member of the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club.
Lenhard died Friday evening at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge
Lenhard was a research director for the U.S. Department of Energy in Oak Ridge, and he had oversight of DOE research activities and served as the federal contracting officer for major federal facilities in the city, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, according to his LinkedIn page. He worked for DOE for about 32 years, from 1957 to 1989.
Lenhard served as president of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce in 1992, and he helped found CROET in 1994. CROET helps find ways to re-use former federal property, not just real estate but also equipment and other federal assets.
Lenhard loved the natural world, and his daughter Andrea said she became a biologist and veterinarian because of him. Her father used to take them on long rambles in the woods, she said, and he would pick up animals like snakes and frogs and tell the children what he knew about them.
“He loved nature, and that was very infectious,” she said.
Andrea said Oak Ridge was very important to her father.
“He always wanted to promote Oak Ridge and take care of Oak Ridge,” she said. “He was very devoted to the city.”
Lenhard could often be found walking in local grocery stores. He was very conscious of his health, Andrea said, and he would walk every day at stores that included Walmart, Kroger, and Food City.
A statement from the family of Lenhard’s daughter Michele said Joe Lenhard was very supportive of higher education.
“He gave substantial sums of money to the University of Tennessee and Roane State Community College,” the statement said. “Roane State dedicated a room to Joseph Lenhard for his outstanding contributions. Joe came from an economically disproportionate background and saw the benefit of higher education. He wanted to provide educational opportunity for the young people of East Tennessee.”
Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch said Lenhard was his friend for more than 25 years.
“The City of Oak Ridge and the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Operations were equally blessed to have Joe as their champion from the time he arrived here in 1957,” Gooch said Saturday. “Whether it was in his role as DOE Director of Research for Oak Ridge facilities, civic leader, or advocate for re-industrialization, his integrity, intellect, and passion for his work helped make Oak Ridge great. We are better people, our community has prospered, our national security has been strengthened, and ORNL’s world leadership in research has been advanced due to Joe’s dedicated work. On behalf of Judy, myself, and the City of Oak Ridge, I extend our condolences to the Lenhard family with sincere thanks for sharing Joe with us.”
Former Oak Ridge Mayor David Bradshaw said there was a small group that founded CROET, but Lenhard led the charge.
Bradshaw, who served on the CROET board with Lenhard, said he would pick Joe up at his house for CROET meetings at East Tennessee Technology Park after Lenhard stopped driving. Lenhard had opinions that were just as strong then as the day the organization was founded, Bradshaw said.
“I just admire Joe for his commitment to the community from the beginning to the end,” Bradshaw said. “I didn’t always agree with Joe, but I always respected him. Our community will definitely miss him. He loved his community, that’s for sure. He was definitely a servant-leader.”
Heritage Center, also known as ETTP or the former K-25 site, is one of the sites where CROET is re-industrializing. The center posted this message on Saturday: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of CROET’s founding chairman, long-time board member, and avid supporter Joe Lenhard. He was a great man and will be greatly missed!”
Former Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan served as president of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce after Lenhard.
Lenhard was like a mentor because he had experience and had worked for DOE, Beehan said. At the time, Beehan had only been in Oak Ridge two years. Lenhard made sure Beehan knew the town’s history and how to best represent the business community and DOE.
“He was very helpful,” Beehan said.
He said Lenhard was supportive when he ran for office, and one of the first checks Beehan’s campaign received was an unsolicited donation from Lenhard.
Lenhard would show up every Friday morning, for as long as he could, at meetings of the East Tennessee Economic Council, Beehan said.
Oak Ridge historian, author, and photographer Ray Smith said Lenhard was his neighbor. Smith said he would take Lenhard to ETEC meetings and also to Rotary Club meetings.
Lenhard had a very prominent position with DOE for years, Smith said.
“I enjoyed being his neighbor,” Smith said. “He was an interesting person with a lot of history of Oak Ridge.”
Lenhard helped Smith with his “Historically Speaking” column and gave him a lot of stories, Smith said.
“Joe has forgotten more about Oak Ridge than the rest of us will ever know,” said Tennessee Senator Ken Yager, a Kingston Republican. “I will miss his welcome when I would show up for ETEC. RIP, my friend.”
Jim Campbell, ETEC president, said Lenhard was board chair when he was hired in 1995. Lenhard was always passionate about the work, the people, and the opportunities that were available because of what is happening in Oak Ridge and what might be possible in the future, Campbell said.
Lenhard was a “great cheerleader for Oak Ridge, and he will be missed by all who knew him well,” Campbell said.
He said Lenhard was a significant part of the team that remade the Roane-Anderson Economic Council as the East Tennessee Economic Council in the early 1990s. Issues at the time, after the end of the Cold War, included how to preserve missions at federal sites in Oak Ridge and complete cleanup work. There was also the challenge of what to do with K-25 site, which was shut down in the mid-1980s. Cleanup of that site will be mostly complete this year.
The building blocks were created in the early 1990s with help from people like Lenhard, Campbell said.
“They put in place a pathway to success, and it’s worked,” Campbell said.
Among the success stories he cited were the building of the Spallation Neutron Source at ORNL, the rebuilding of Y-12, the K-25 cleanup, and the creation of industrial spaces.
On his LinkedIn page, Lenhard said he graduated from East Detroit High School, where he participated in football and track, in 1947. He served on an attack cargo ship in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1956. He had bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nuclear physics from Vanderbilt University.
In August, Lenhard was recognized for more than 30 years as a member of the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club.
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