Larry Shank: He Was My Friend
Last updated Tuesday, July 31, 2007 10:22 PM CDT in Sports
By Jerry L. Reed
THE MORNING NEWS
SPRINGDALE -- Though it can't be said of everyone, the plain unvarnished truth in this world of give and take, Larry Shank gave more than he ever took.
Unfortunately for us who genuinely loved him, he was taken away too soon to be with our heavenly father last Saturday a.m.
Cloaked in an apron of pain, we celebrated Larry Wayne Shank's life during a heart-tugging memorial service in the First United Methodist Church of Springdale on Tuesday, not long after dawn's early light.
Some of us took inventory of our own lives, wishing, hoping and praying we could somehow measure up to the high standards of living Larry Shank taught us in his short 56 years on God's green earth.
Like many, Larry was my friend.
Shank, perhaps best known to many as the public address announcer for Arkansas college baseball games, was a public figure with great stature, a giant among men.
Whether it was 35 baseball degrees or 75 baseball degrees in Baum Stadium, his positive attitude always stayed at the same room temperature.
His seventh-inning stretch performances with his signature miniature bat waving into frigid or warm air for all those many calendars were legendary, like his ability to sing the national anthem with booming voice and pride, and better than anyone else at Sunday home games.
He, however, was much, much more than that and that's why he's no longer an angel in waiting.
He's more than earned his wings.
And, as sportwriting legend Grantland Rice once wrote:
"For when the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name, he marks -- not that you won or lost -- but how you played the game."
Larry Shank often spoke of God's game.
In a nutshell, Larry Shank was/is baseball!
And oh, how he played the game!
He warmed out hearts with his minty-fresh attitude toward life, even if it eventually dealt him a bad hand.
Larry Wayne Shank started his journey to the pearly gates on Feb. 2, 1951, and entered on July 28, 2007.
Ironic, isn't it? On the last season Larry would see his beloved Razorbacks play baseball, the season began on his date of birth, Feb. 2.
That, one would think, made him now proud he was here to see this season for his last trip around the bases in 56 years of service to his Lord and savior.
Along the way, he taught all of us that salvation comes with an all-bills-paid relief which everyone can achieve.
He didn't lose his battle with cancer on Saturday morning -- though many may view it that way -- but was the ultimate grand prize winner in this game called life, according to the gospel of Larry.
At this very moment, as I sit here in my cathedral of comfort called work -- that's where Larry lived most of his life when he wasn't with his wonderful, loving family at home, or at his church, or in his Northwest Arkansas community -- with tears cascading down my cheeks in the privacy of my earthly home, Larry sits peacefully in my heart.
His heavenly voice is singing "Amazing Grace" like nobody else could with the exception of my most immediate passed family members over the decades, who, without a doubt, now call Larry Wayne Shank their friend.
Until the very end, Larry was a profile in coverage.
Not once did any of us hear him whine or bellyache about the cancer that took his life.
He only talked about playing God's game forever and ever.
Amen!
JERRY L. REED IS A SENIOR SPORTSWRITER FOR THE MORNING NEWS. E-MAIL: JREED@NWAONLINE.NET
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