Ladon Sheats talk now online
I had not had the oportunity to meet Ladon Sheats before he passed away, just a little over three years ago. I am not sure of the exact date of this recording, I assume it was some time in the 70’s. In it he recounts his early life as an IBM CEO in the 60’s and his call and conversion to a life of radical Christian discipleship. In the years after his conversion he carried all of his worldy belongings in a backpack, and traveled around the country, spending time at monasteries, Catholic Worker Houses, and commiting acts of civil disobediance. For those who, like myself, never met him I urge you to give it a chance, he starts out a bit slow, but I have found his talk to be very powerful.
Ladon Sheats Part 1
Ladon Sheats Part 2
Please excuse the pops and clips in the recording, the quality of the original was poor.
Thank you for making such an inspiring speech available. It both challenged and uplifted me.
Comment by Chris Carroll — 3/15/2006 @ 5:02 am
Ladon was my uncle. I still miss him. He was just another human being… inspiring in his being human.
shanda
Comment by Shanda Stiles — 10/25/2007 @ 1:28 am
I worked for Ladon Sheats in NY at IBM/Service Bureau. He made a lasting impressin on me when he quit his job and went to Koinonia. His action changed my path in life. I didn’t realize he had died, and I’m sorry to hear about that, but I know he is safe and secure in Heaven with his Father.
Comment by Valerie Golembiewski — 4/5/2010 @ 4:59 pm
Thank you for making this available
Comment by Meredith Males — 4/25/2010 @ 12:08 am
I had not heard that Ladon had died until now. He was my manager when I was an IBM trainee, back in 1966 and was most encouraging to me; a wonderful mentor and a real gentleman. I still have a handwritten note of encouragement that he gave me at a time when I really needed it. I am sure he is with the Lord; we will renew our friendship at the appropriate time.
Comment by Dave Cox — 9/12/2010 @ 9:07 pm
Ladon and my parents were friends from koinia(sp?) in the late 60’s.
I was named after him in ‘71. I have only a few memories of
him. He was a ghost that sometimes appeared in Atlanta. The
last time I saw him he was just out of prison and then a monastery
Recupperating (sp?) . He refused to work chain game and spent
fair amount of time in solitary. He chose a life few of us can
Imagine or duplicate. An inspiration is too cliche to describe his life. I am in
awe that someone can be so focused on others wellbeing. RIP.
Comment by Jason Ladon Shorthouse — 2/11/2012 @ 7:52 pm
Back in 1970 I was sent to the airport to pick up a speaker for our Youth Retreat.. He would have jeans and black rimmed glasses… that how I met him… in one hour of dialog, I felt a kinship beyond description. Waht a man!
The some time in the early ’70’s I spent some time at Koinonia Farms with him… my life was never the same after that!
Comment by Delmer Schlabach — 3/30/2012 @ 9:58 pm