Larry attended District 33, a one room rural school in Cuming County, prior to moving to Oakland in 1955. He graduated from high school there in 1966. He attended Wayne State College for two years and then transferred to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he a BSE in 1970, a Masters Degree in 1972, and a Specialists Degree in Educational Administration in 1974. He spent his first 7 years after college in education, teaching at Ralston high School from 1970-72, moving to the Nebraska State Department of Education in Lincoln from 1972-74 serving as a consultant for vocational education. Later in life he realized among the many things that job offered, that traveling the state from border to border allowed him to see and experience first hand the small towns, the sandhills, the many rivers and lakes, and the great people that made up the state of Nebraska. His final position in education was at Lyons High School where he was the Jr. Sr. High School Principal and Athletic Director from 1974-77.
In the summer of 1977 he moved to Lincoln and joined forces with his friend from college, Larry Loomis, when they started Awards Unlimited, from scratch. They both served as co-owners and were heavily involved in the day to day operations of the company for the entire 38 years. The company had grown to 45 employees with sales in all 50 states by 2015 when they sold it to Regal Awards of Omaha in 2015.
Larry very much enjoyed working with the customers. The nature of the company was such that he had weekly, monthly or at the very least annual connections with each customer he worked with, year after year. Many became friends as well as customers.
Being a former educator, he had a special connection with the principals and athletic directors in Nebraska. He received the Jack Hallstrom “Friend of Education” award from the Nebraska Association of Secondary School Principals, the “Award of High Distinction” from the Nebraska State Athletic Directors Association, the “Distinguished Service Award” from the Nebraska State Activities (NSAA), and the “Friend of High School Sports” award from the Nebraska High School Coaches Association. Larry also served on the Board of Directors of the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Larry loved spending time with his 8 grandchildren where games and sports were almost always part of the activities.
Larry is survived by his wife, Connie, daughter Holly King, Torrance, CA, grandchildren Chesney and Parker, step-sons Ryan (Michelle) and Troy ( Tracy) HIlligas and their children Tayler, Aspen, Kennedi, Bryson, Jack, and Ellie, nephew Mike Jensen, Harrisville, NY. Preceded in death by his parents, sister Shirley King Jensen, and brother Dwain King.
Celebration of Life: 11:00 A.M. Wednesday (2-1-23) Roper and Sons South Lincoln Chapel, 3950 Hohensee Drive.
Memorials to: Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame or Peoples City Mission.
Honorary Pallbearers
~Mick Anderson
~Tom Swenson
~Greg Kamp
~Scott & Ruth Koch
~Greg & Julie Adams
~Ann Masters
~Kurt Micek
~Sheila King
~Ron & Sheila Scheinost
~Dave & Marla Stahl
~Vicki & (Jack) Pierce
~(Leon & Phyllis Wragge)
~(Larry Loomis)
~Athletic Directors
~Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors