Pioneer of the profession Bud La Londe dies at 84

Dr. Bernard J. "Bud" La Londe, professor emeritus of supply chain management at The Ohio State University (OSU), passed away on Dec. 1 at the age of 84.

La Londe was instrumental in developing the concept of business logistics, advocating that businesses combine physical distribution management with materials management, procurement, and manufacturing into a single business discipline.

In a statement recognizing his passing, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) said La Londe was "a giant" who "put forth a vision for the profession" and "helped to define the principles and practices that now are widely accepted as the core of sound supply chain management." In a separate communication, CSCMP President and CEO Rick Blasgen called La Londe "a legend."

La Londe received CSCMP's prestigious Distinguished Service Award in 1976, when he was professor of marketing and logistics at OSU, and in 1978 the organization created the annual Bernard J. La Londe Best Paper Award, for the most valuable paper presented in CSCMP's Journal of Business Logistics.

La Londe first joined the Ohio State faculty in 1969, and early on played a pivotal role in developing the university's world-renowned logistics and supply chain degree programs. He was the author of more than 120 articles and books, including many that are standard textbooks in academic programs across the country. He taught for decades and chaired more than 60 doctoral dissertations, advising many of today's logistics and supply chain researchers and academics. Indeed, any sizable gathering of logistics and supply chain professionals today will inevitably include graduates of OSU's undergraduate and graduate programs; mention La Londe, and eyes will light up and stories about not just his brilliance as an educator but also about his kindness and wise guidance as a mentor will begin to flow. (La Londe was also known for handing out buckeyes, the native chestnuts that give the state of Ohio its nickname, to acquaintances new and old; one of them sits on this writer's desk.)

La Londe was born in Detroit, Michigan. He earned a bachelor's degree from Notre Dame, a Master's degree from University of Detroit, and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Prior to teaching at Ohio State, he was a professor at the University of Colorado and Michigan State University.

Memorial donations may be made in his memory to The La Londe Scholarship Fund (#603874) at the Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University, 2100 Neil Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43210 or to The Lisa La Londe-Cox Scholarship Fund at The Columbus Foundation (www.columbusfoundation.org).