Distinguished:
Eldor "Lars" Larson
Eldor "Lars" Larson came to General Beadle Teacher's College in 1947, wanting to get playing experience to make him a better coach and teacher, which would be his passion. Larson joined the basketball team, learning techniques her would use as a coach. After just a year at General Beadle, Larson graduated with a State Certificate, permitting him to teach in the elementary school. He was offered a seventh and eighth grade teaching and coaching position at Strandburg.
Larson coached the basketball team into the State "B" tournament his first year there. In 1950 he decided to focus on getting his bachelor's degree and came back to General Beadle. Four of his players decided to join him. He was now playing beside the athletes he had previously coached at Strandburg.
The five played both football and basketball. Larson cracked three ribs in the first football game against Dakota Wesleyan and broke his leg in the final game of the season. After he recovered from his injuries on the football field, Larson joined three of his former players on the basketball court. It was one of the highlights of his playing career to play along side the boys he had onced coached.
After graduation in 1952, Larson went to South Shore to teach and coach. In 1954 he became the superintendent. He traveled to Minnesota in 1960 and for the next 20 years he worked as a supe4rintendent at several different school districts. After two heart attacks in 1981, Eldor resigned from Park Rapids to find his way back to South Dakota. Before retiring in 1989, Eldor served as superintendent, elementary principal and boys and girls basketball coach at Midland.
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Completed by Spring 2004 Class of English 401
Last updated Spring 2004