Wichita developer George Ablah dies at age 85

Wichita developer George Ablah, who helped define and shape much of east Wichita, died Monday. He was 85.

“George had been ill for some time,” George Laham, a Wichita businessman and developer who considered Mr. Ablah a mentor, said Monday. “Today was his time to fall asleep … and he did.”

Funeral services are pending.

Mr. Ablah helped drive east Wichita’s development, guiding a number of residential and retail projects. In the early 1980s, Mr. Ablah – along with Charles Koch – bought 2,000 acres from 29th Street to 47th Street along both sides of North Rock Road, Laham said.

“Because of their commitment to the city and because of their interest in enhancing the value of the ground, they contributed the land for K-96, or the Northeast Expressway,” he said.

“That was the thrust for the development in northeast Wichita, including Terra Cotta Tower, Tallgrass and Willowbend. All of that was George’s vision and really what connected those neighborhoods to the rest of the city.”

Mr. Ablah was honored in 2007 with the Kansas Certified Commercial Investment Member chapter’s third Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1986, he and his wife, Virginia, were presented the Achievement Award, the highest award given to alumni of Wichita State University in recognition of significant contributions to society.

Mr. Ablah and his wife also were active members of Wichita’s art community.

This story was originally published October 27, 2014 at 10:26 PM with the headline "Wichita developer George Ablah dies at age 85."