(From Carl Junction Schools)It is with great sadness that we share the passing of longtime Bulldog, educator, coach, and athletic director, Mike Larson.
A proud member of the Carl Junction High School Class of 1972, Mike dedicated much of his life to the school and community that he loved. As a student, he was a standout three-sport athlete, earning varsity letters in football, basketball, and track & field before returning home to invest in future generations of Bulldogs.
During his 27-year career at Carl Junction Schools, Mike served as a mathematics teacher, coach, and athletic director. He coached football, basketball, and golf before leading our athletic department for 17 years until his retirement in 2009. His commitment to student-athletes and educational excellence earned him recognition as the Southwest Missouri Athletic Director of the Year, and in 2015 he was rightfully inducted into the Carl Junction Athletics Hall of Fame.
Mike's influence reached far beyond wins and championships. He was a mentor, a leader, and someone who cared deeply about the students, staff, and community of Carl Junction. His legacy continues through the countless lives he impacted over the years.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Mike's wife, Julie, their children, grandchildren, and the entire Larson family during this difficult time.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 21, in the Carl Junction High School Gymnasium, with visitation from 4:00–7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 20, also in the high school gymnasium.
Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog.
Rest in peace, Coach Larson.
2 comments:
The his obituary on the Parker website, it said he was a resident of Briarbrook for 40 years. It didn’t say a resident of Carl Junction, a resident of Briarbrook. This is exactly how residents of Briarbrook feel about Carl Junction. They see themselves as better and above the city proper, they are their own entity. Might as well change the name of the school to Briarbrook R-1 School District.
To 10:20AM... An obituary is meant to honor someone’s life, not to debate geographic boundaries. The family simply shared where he had longest lived, and I am sure there was no intent to make any socio-economic statement about Briarbrook or Carl Junction. Simply consider that they also mentioned he went to school at Waco, which of course is also part of the Carl Junction school district. So, this really isn’t the place for community politics — it’s a place to show respect for someone who has passed. I appreciate the effort Mike Larson made to teach me mathematics. And I don't think it ever mattered to Mr. Larson that my shoes had more manure on them than the shoes of the kids from Briarbrook or the city proper. Mr. Larson made an equal effort to teach me mathematics.
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