Larry Yeagle

One year ago today my mentor and friend Larry Yeagle died in a cycling accident. For me he was the man outside of my own family who chose to be a part of my life and invited me to be a part of his. I met Larry when I was in the 7th grade. He was my Sunday school teacher. I was big into running long distances at that point and that was something Larry understood. He signed me up and paid for my first 10 mile race (and several after that). Every Saturday during junior high he would pick me up and we would go for a training run a Lincoln Parish Park. He would provide the gear and the Gu. Larry would go on to be there for me at many of my high school running events, graduations, races I hosted, and at my wedding.

A few weeks ago I was telling my friend John about the mentorship Larry provided for me and how he taught me through his actions what it meant to be a Christian man. Somewhere in the conversation I mentioned Larry's age. John was surprised and said he had also imagined Larry as this cool college guy who took me under his wing. Well the truth is Larry was no such person. Larry was an old bald guy when I met him back in junior high. He was short and fat and finished almost dead last in every race. He was a rather rough character who drove motorcycles. He told stories of how he fell off at catwalk on a construction site and broke his back and several other bones, and how doctors told him he would never walk again. Larry didn't know how to quit. He ran, biked, and swam even though he was slow.....really slow. He competed in trail runs, triathlons(including a half Iron-man), and 100-mile cycling races. In fact he was training for the Hotter-N-Hell 100 miler when he died.

What made Larry such a good mentor and loved person? Larry was not a good athlete. He was actually a boring Sunday school teacher. He could even be a little short tempered. His motorcycle skills were nothing short of terrifying. But Larry loved Jesus and he loved people. Larry taught me perseverance. He didn't know when to quit loving. Long after his Sunday school class and we finished our first race together he was there for me. He kept choosing me. Larry mirrored God's love and faithfulness to his people.

I am so glad I got to express my gratefulness to Larry before he left us. He will always be remembered.