Larry Belmont is seen with his wife of 55 years, Laureen Belmont, in this past photo. Larry, the first and longtime director of Panhandle Health District, died Friday. He was preceded in death by Laureen in 2021.
January 14, 2026
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Panhandle Health District's first director passes away
Colleagues share his legacy
A healthy populace was Larry Belmont's top priority. Not pleasing politicians. Not bending to economic development. Public health. "He was at the cutting edge of the implementation of public health at the local level," Ken Lustig, who worked for Belmont for 27 years, said Tuesday. Belmont, the first and longtime director of the Panhandle Health District, died Friday following a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 89. "I can honestly say, I’m 82, I would rank him among the top 10 men I've ever had the privilege of working with or serving with," said Lustig, of Boundary County. "He was a top-notch individual, intelligent, articulate, dedicated to public health. "He was just a dynamite man, just dynamite."