Home » Lane Report Publisher and Lexington Council Member Ed Lane passes away

Lane Report Publisher and Lexington Council Member Ed Lane passes away

By The Lane Report Staff

A celebration of life for Ed Lane has been scheduled for 4 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Hilary J. Boone Center on the University of Kentucky campus. (Click here for information regarding directions and parking.) Visitation is 4-7  p.m. with a celebration ceremony from 7-8 p.m.

Lexington, Ky. – Edwin “Ed” Green Lane III, publisher and founder of The Lane Report magazine, a Lexington Urban County Council member and long-time commercial real estate broker, passed away Sunday August 2, 2015.

Publisher Ed Lane started The Lane Report 30 years ago.
Publisher Ed Lane started The Lane Report 30 years ago.

He is survived by daughters Susan Brett Lane and Katherine Meredith Lane.

He bravely battled cancer for more than two years, a situation that was unknown outside his immediate family. His daughters were with him Sunday night when he passed quietly.

“The staff is saddened by the passing of an amazing man, but it is lessened by how we marvel at the legacy Ed Lane leaves,” said Mark Green, editorial director of Lane Communications Group. “His energy, his intelligence, his enthusiasm, his optimism and concern for his family, community and the nation will be missed but will continue to influence us. He was a true leader. The man had an enthusiasm for life.”

Lane Consultants, the parent company of Lane Communications Group, will continue to operate under the plans that Ed left. He chose his staff with great care and created a strong, successful operation that will carry on in his absence.

After college, Ed moved to New York City and worked for a major advertising agency for a couple of years. It was there his passion and love for the culinary arts began. He then moved to Atlanta where he was the sales manager for WRNG radio and was the president of the Atlanta Young Republicans. He also dove into the commercial real estate business, which led to becoming the national director of real estate for Lexington-based Jerrico in its Atlanta regional office. That job brought him to Lexington regularly as he scouted new locations for the company. He was directly involved in hundreds of site acquisitions for Long John Silver’s Seafood Shops nationwide.

In 1981, Ed started the Lexington-based commercial real estate brokerage Lane Consultants and, later, Lane Communications Group, publisher of The Lane Report, a respected Kentucky business news magazine, as well as a slew of other ancillary publications such as BG Magazines in Lexington and Louisville, NEXT magazine, Market Reviews for several communities in Kentucky, and the Faster Lane email newsletter.

Encouraged by members of the business community to pursue public office, Ed has represented the 12th District of Lexington on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government council since 2005, and was serving his fourth term, having been re-elected without opposition in 2014. He focused often on sound financial management and was known among fellow council members for his insights in analyzing revenue and spending numbers.

“Not only was Ed highly successful in his own business,” Lexington Mayor Jim Gray said, “he was an outstanding public servant who brought his business experience and expertise to City Hall to fight for Lexington’s business men and women. He also was a strong advocate for his district. Our city will miss his leadership and experience.”

“I was saddened to hear of the passing of my good friend, Ed Lane,” said U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell. “Ed was a dedicated public servant and a tireless advocate for the people of Kentucky. He was also a successful businessman and publisher. I always enjoyed reading The Lane Report, a great publication for and about Kentucky’s business community, especially Ed’s engaging One-on-One interviews. Elaine and I send our condolences to his family. Ed will be sorely missed.”

In addition to his public service, Ed was passionate about his community. He loved opportunities to support Central Kentucky with his businesses, through philanthropic efforts and his time to lead through service. He has served on the boards of numerous business, government, arts and civic organizations including the Breeders’ Cup Host Committee, UK Sanders-Brown Center of Aging Foundation Board (former chairman), Lexington Downtown Development Authority Board, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board (board secretary), Kentucky Arts Council, 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games Advisory Committee, LexArts, Lexington Ballet, The Lexington Philharmonic, Better Business Bureau of Lexington, Junior Achievement of the Bluegrass, Mayor’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Committee, Fayette County Equine Task Force, and Commerce Lexington Agribusiness Committee, among others.

Ed absolutely loved to go to work every day. He loved his businesses and maintained a work ethic rarely matched. He was an overachiever, energetic and a true optimist, positive no matter the situation.

“Ed Lane was a true advocate for Fayette County and a strong voice for Kentucky’s business community,” said Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear. “His energy and passion resonated in everything that he did in life. As publisher of The Lane Report, Ed had a unique talent of engaging local, state and federal leaders on major issues facing the Commonwealth. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family, co-workers and friends during this very difficult time.”

At his direction, the magazine took a positive approach to reporting on business, economic development and related public policy in Kentucky, focusing on presenting solutions being developed to problem issues along with success stories and best practices.

“Ed Lane was a good friend. He truly cared about Kentucky, and he worked tirelessly to promote its advantages and successes. His passion about Kentucky business was infectious,” said Larry Hayes, Secretary for the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. “Ed knew the value of business growth to the economy and well-being of Kentucky, and he worked to educate our citizens about its importance. We are all better for his contributions to Kentucky. We will miss him dearly.”

Ed initiated the magazine’s monthly One-on-One question-and-answer with key Kentucky leaders early in the publication’s history, he said, to provoke public discussion of important community issues. (In May 2010, The Lane Report editorial director Mark Green conducted a One-on-One with Ed, click here for the article.)

Ed conducted the interviews and edited their transcripts himself, and on Thursday had completed editing of the One-on-One that will appear in the upcoming August issue.

“RIP Ed Lane. Such a tragic loss for all of Kentucky,” Trey Grayson, CEO of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, said on Twitter.

Ed was an artist, photographer, art collector and a supporter of the arts – especially local and young artists. He was a multitalented man on many levels. He was passionate about cooking and enjoyed having friends and family over for his spectacular meals. He taught his daughters how to fish, he loved reading, gardening and could talk politics with anyone, no matter their stance. He also loved fast cars – a hobby that earned him the nickname “Fast Eddie” in the ’60s.

A celebration of life will be held Aug. 15 at the Hilary J. Boone Center on the University of Kentucky campus. Visitation is slated for 4-7 p.m. and celebration ceremonies are 7-8 p.m.

Check back for updates to this report through the day.