He may be technically gone from our midst, but as you say he won't be forgotten. Purely good humans who practice good servant leadership are getting harder to find. Williams was certainly an example. Thanks for giving him a solid tribute, JC.
John. Love your heartwarming stories of people we all wished we had met ! You are such a buoyancy of “enjoying Life and learning of wonderful people !
Ah, Coach Mike Leach …I think of him often , having followed him as an OSU Alumn, and his tenure at WSU.
Leach was an incredible Coach and had an incredible infectious sense of humor that I miss tremendously reading about his funny quips after winning or losing .
Next to Dee Andros, Leach and Dee were the most charming , funny, and inspirational Coaches of all PAC 12 history . I miss them both tremendously !…they aren’t made like those 2 anymore 😂 !!
John. Was Mike Leach ever published for his funny football Quips ? If not, someone should compile a summary of them and write a Book about all of them with the various Scores and what prompted his comments !
Maybe something you should write and create a “ Best Seller “ !!! He was so admired and loved by all of us College football fans !!! RIP, the great Mike Leach !
THUD!! Great article. Never knew him. Sorry that I didn't. These kinds of pieces make it all the more worthwhile to subscribe. May his memory be for a blessing..
“Only the good die young” is generally remembered as lyrics to a Billy Joel song, but the historical reference dates back to the Ancient Greek proverb “Whom the gods love, best go first”. Well done.
We live in a cynical and divisive time. Thanks, John, for this tribute to Larry. and reminder of what counts in athletic leadership and simply being a decent human being. When I finished reading your piece, I felt like I’d lost a friend. R.I.P., Larry. Even at 82, you left way too soon……
Reading his Wikipedia bio it is interesting the challenges he faced and overcame at every one of his stops as an AD. Tenacity should be part of his legacy. Perhaps religious faith was part of his tool chest? Regardless, he made his mark.
My apologies for misreading Larry’s age. 62 is far too young to lose such a talent and athletic centered renaissance man. Thanks again, John. Hope I run into you at the West Linn Safeway one of these days!
Very nicely written with sentiments that are full of grace. I am a retired Lutheran pastor and keep wondering if you would like to be a pastor someday?😊 I think you might be great. You get people!
RIP Larry. Your spirit will live on through your family, friends, colleagues and the young athletes you made an impression on. Thanks for sharing Larry Williams story with us JC.
I just turned 61, so stories like this hit a little close to home. I still run and cycle frequently and wonder if I'm just going to drop dead one day. I think the best thing is to not worry about that too much and enjoy each day as the blessing it is. My sincere condolences to his family and friends. 62 is much too young.
Beautiful article John. It brings back memories of my times on those campuses. It’s often said that the good die young and this pretty well proves it.
Very sincere condolences to his family and to all the students and friends who knew him, he will be missed greatly. The world and his faith lost a great man.
Great job John! This is why your readers love your writing. You show the humanity of it all and tell what really matters!
Your writing is the conduit for knowing someone we will never meet.
My sympathies to the Williams family and community.
John, I don't know how you make me mourn for someone I've not only never known, but never even heard of before. But you do.
Your writing is a true gift to us all.
I also am constantly amazed at the speed at which you produce such a quality piece with such little notice. Well done, Sir.
He may be technically gone from our midst, but as you say he won't be forgotten. Purely good humans who practice good servant leadership are getting harder to find. Williams was certainly an example. Thanks for giving him a solid tribute, JC.
“I’m just going to do my best”
A righteous epitaph to a full life lived
62 is young. We really need to take advantage of the time we are given. Thanks for another great read, and on an interesting person.
John. Love your heartwarming stories of people we all wished we had met ! You are such a buoyancy of “enjoying Life and learning of wonderful people !
Ah, Coach Mike Leach …I think of him often , having followed him as an OSU Alumn, and his tenure at WSU.
Leach was an incredible Coach and had an incredible infectious sense of humor that I miss tremendously reading about his funny quips after winning or losing .
Next to Dee Andros, Leach and Dee were the most charming , funny, and inspirational Coaches of all PAC 12 history . I miss them both tremendously !…they aren’t made like those 2 anymore 😂 !!
No way you can leave John McKay off the list.
A memorable McKay line on being asked about the many times O.J. Simpson had carried the ball during a game, "What's the problem, it's not heavy."
...and following an SC game to his team, "Gentlemen, 900 million Chinese neither know nor care about today's game."
John. Was Mike Leach ever published for his funny football Quips ? If not, someone should compile a summary of them and write a Book about all of them with the various Scores and what prompted his comments !
Maybe something you should write and create a “ Best Seller “ !!! He was so admired and loved by all of us College football fans !!! RIP, the great Mike Leach !
John, many thanks, a wonderful tribute for a worthy man.
It is perhaps worth noting here two other former football players who made significant impacts, no pun intended, in the area of jurisprudence.
Byron "Whizzer" White, Colorado all-American and member of the Collegiate Football HOF who became a US Supreme Court Justice.
Alan Page, a member of the Minnesota Vikings Purple People Eaters, Supreme Court Justice of the State of Minnesota, member of the NFL HOF.
THUD!! Great article. Never knew him. Sorry that I didn't. These kinds of pieces make it all the more worthwhile to subscribe. May his memory be for a blessing..
“Only the good die young” is generally remembered as lyrics to a Billy Joel song, but the historical reference dates back to the Ancient Greek proverb “Whom the gods love, best go first”. Well done.
We live in a cynical and divisive time. Thanks, John, for this tribute to Larry. and reminder of what counts in athletic leadership and simply being a decent human being. When I finished reading your piece, I felt like I’d lost a friend. R.I.P., Larry. Even at 82, you left way too soon……
Reading his Wikipedia bio it is interesting the challenges he faced and overcame at every one of his stops as an AD. Tenacity should be part of his legacy. Perhaps religious faith was part of his tool chest? Regardless, he made his mark.
My apologies for misreading Larry’s age. 62 is far too young to lose such a talent and athletic centered renaissance man. Thanks again, John. Hope I run into you at the West Linn Safeway one of these days!
Very nicely written with sentiments that are full of grace. I am a retired Lutheran pastor and keep wondering if you would like to be a pastor someday?😊 I think you might be great. You get people!
RIP Larry. Your spirit will live on through your family, friends, colleagues and the young athletes you made an impression on. Thanks for sharing Larry Williams story with us JC.
I just turned 61, so stories like this hit a little close to home. I still run and cycle frequently and wonder if I'm just going to drop dead one day. I think the best thing is to not worry about that too much and enjoy each day as the blessing it is. My sincere condolences to his family and friends. 62 is much too young.
Beautiful article John. It brings back memories of my times on those campuses. It’s often said that the good die young and this pretty well proves it.
Very sincere condolences to his family and to all the students and friends who knew him, he will be missed greatly. The world and his faith lost a great man.
Thank you for this John. I only vaguely remembered him at UP, but this made me sad I didn't know him.