Larry Elliott

Larry Elliott was born in La Junta, Colorado November 9, 1935 and passed away April 13, 2008 in Surprise, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his father William P. and step-mother Valeda Elliott and his mother Dorothy and step-father Bill Hawkins. Larry is survived by his wife of 25 years, Arlene, his son Mark, granddaughter Haley, Mark's fiance Deena and son Zachary, daughter Melissa Renyer, granddaughters Jessica, Jordan, Jena and Kacie, along with Melissa's husband Dennis and step-grandchildren Kody and Kellie. He is also survived by his first wife Jayne Cafer. Larry has three step-children, Alan Cunningham and wife Kim, granddaughters Abby and Lauren, Tim Cunningham and wife Linda, granddaughters Nicole and Alexis, and Sarah Cunningham and husband Ryan Ritter, granddaughters Andrea and Veronica.

Larry is also survived by one brother, Gary Lynn Elliott, and his wife Kati of Sun City West, Arizona, two step-sisters, Toni Viergutz and husband Clint of Sun City West, Az and Jill Snider and husband Tom of Pampa, Texas.

Larry graduated from Grant County Rural High School in Ulysses, Kansas in 1953. He received All-State honors in both football and basketball. He attended Kansas State for a year and a half participating in football, basketball and baseball. After leaving K-State he attended Garden City Community College and then signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers and played one year of minor league baseball. He went from baseball back to college at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. While at Washburn, he earned all-conference honors in football and basketball. He graduated from Washburn and went on to coach at Silver Lake High School in Kansas from 1959-1966. Larry left Silver Lake to return to his alma mater as head baseball coach (where he coached Davey Lopes) and assistant football coach. He retired in 1989 as the second winningest coach in baseball and football after serving two separate terms as the head football coach. Larry was inducted into the Washburn University Hall of Fame in 1986.

Larry is also in the Kansas Softball Hall of Fame after playing for several teams in Topeka with many of the same players. For many years, his teams were the best in Kansas and in the Midwest. He was known in fast pitch circles as a power hitting catcher who walked in the batters box while hitting.

Larry was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Larry's hobbies included traveling, attending grandchildren's activities, playing games with friends and family, and golf.

Larry's great love for his family, chosen profession, former players, coaches and friends was known to all. His quote on his life was, "I had a great life!!"

A memorial celebration of Larry's life will be held at Lee Arena at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas on April 30th at 10 a.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers a contribution be made to the Larry Elliott WU Athletic Memorial Fund, c/o WU Athletic Department, 1700 SW College, Topeka, Kansas, 66621.