In Loving Memory ...
These messages appeared in the January / February 2012 edition of KIA & B magazne .
As I worried about Larry ’ s health , I reflected on how important and special Larry was to me . I was very sad to lose such a good and close friend . I thought about how much he meant to me , both personally and professionally . How much I would miss trading emails with him at all hours of the day and night , including weekends . I thought as if it was just “ him and me .” Then it occurred to me , “ who did I think I was , why did I think I was so special ”? Larry had many good friends just like me , and I ’ m sure they too were sad to lose such a special friend .”
-Tom Murry , ICI President , KAIA Past-President
Larry was the smartest person I knew when it came to all aspects of our industry . He was also one of the most respected regardless if you were an agent , someone from a company , or someone at the association level , state or national . I am proud to have counted Larry as a friend . I will be at Salina the end of February but it will not be the same without Larry there , at least not this year . I have no doubt that the KAIA has such a strong foundation because of Larry that it will continue forward . That might be one of the best legacies that Larry will leave behind , and knowing Larry , I think he would feel really good about that and expect all of us to make sure that legacy continues . Larry would also be humble enough to think that my praise of him is entirely overstated . That was just Larry .”
- KAIA Past-President and State National Director Al Shank
“ The Stevenson quote says it much more eloquently than I ever could . Larry was just one of those guys you don ’ t forget . More than anyone else , he helped me learn the Kansas insurance landscape when I moved here almost twenty years ago . His family aside , if Larry loved anything more than the business , it probably was his love of the outdoors . I consider myself lucky to have been a part of several hunting trips with Larry , the most recent being this past November . While the hunting was pretty marginal , the camaraderie was , as they say , “ priceless .” Larry ’ s friendship will be missed . His legacy of a life well-lived will endure .” - Bernie Zalaznik , EMC Insurance Companies
“ Larry could pack more activity into one day than anyone else . He didn ’ t let a little bad weather stop him . We could never say “ no ” to him - even in terrible conditions - which led to some pretty harrowing adventures ( that were quite funny in hindsight ).
- Larry ’ s best friend Will Larson and brother Kent Magill
“ Thank you , Larry , for being such a great boss . You challenged us , but you were fair , your expectations were high , but you rewarded greatly , you empowered us , and gave us room to be successful . We will forever miss you walking around the office without shoes ; we will miss you beginning every staff meeting talking about movies , hunting , fishing , or your round of golf and shivering through staff meetings due to you keeping the office completely frigid year-round . We will miss the way you blushed during “ girl talk ,” the way you listened to all of our stories , and the way you scolded us for being “ too soft ” as parents . We will miss the way you could squeeze a penny but still have good taste . We will miss your smile , your unlimited knowledge of insurance , and you ’ re always taking the time to care even though most of the time you were “ doubled booked ” with meetings . We will miss stopping for Dairy Queen during road trips and your love for coffee throughout the day , and the 100 ’ s of emails you would send all of us on the weekends . But most of all , we will just miss you !”
- KAIA Staff- Marcia , Joann , Meredith , Rebecca , Paul , Dorothy , Kerri , Deanna , Erin , Jill , Al , and Amanda
100 Years of Service , 1921-2021 67