Senate Resolution No. 1830

A RESOLUTION congratulating and commending Larry Friend:  A great athlete, a great coach, and a great person.

     WHEREAS, Larry Friend, a native of Burdett, was inducted into the Kansas High School State Activities Association Hall of Fame at a banquet in his honor at Hays on January 24, 2004.  A star athlete in high school and college, he lived his dream of coaching other athletes; and

     WHEREAS, Friend was an outstanding athlete at Burdett High School.  Fifty years ago, on March 20, 1954, the Burdett High School Tigers, coached by Jay Frazier, won the Class BB State Basketball Championship at Great Bend with a victory over Plevna High School of 55 to 47, and Larry Friend, at 5'7" and 155 pounds was named the most valuable player.  Playing football in college, he was a Conference 1st Team Running Back, All-American Halfback, and All Conference Defensive Back.  In track, Friend excelled and set records in the 100 yard (9.4) and 220 yard (20.6) dashes; and

     WHEREAS, In 35 years of coaching, Larry Friend made an impact on several Kansas High School athletic programs.  In the 1960's he guided Cimarron High School football team to an amazing 30 game winning streak with an overall record of 46-7-1.  He also coached track at Cimarron, leading the Blue Jays to a Class B State Track title in 1966; and

     WHEREAS, In 1968, Friend began a twenty-year stellar coaching career at Plainville High School, guiding the football team to six Mid Continent League titles, six District Championships, five Bi-District titles, Regional and Sub State Championships on their way to winning Class 3A State Football titles in 1980 and again in 1985.  At the close of his coaching career, he had compiled an overall football record of 214-95-1: and

     WHEREAS, Along with his coaching duties, Friend also officiated basketball and was selected to call several state tournaments.  He served as the president of the Kansas Coaches Association, was a KSHSAA Coaching School clinician and a Shrine Bowl Coach.  He was recognized by the Salina Journal and the Hays Daily News as Area Coach of the Year; and

     WHEREAS, Since his early days Friend always wanted to be a coach.  He wanted to have the opportunity to teach his athletes that discipline, dedication, sportsmanship and respect for family were valuable parts of being winners both on and off the field.  His record shows he succeeded as few others have:  Now, therefore,

     Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas:     That we congratulate and commend Larry Friend upon his successes as an athlete, coach and person and cite him as one highly worthy of emulation; and

     Be it further resolved:   That the Secretary of the Senate provide nine enrolled copies of this resolution to Larry Friend and one copy to Senator Salmans.

     On emergency motion of Senator Salmans SR 1830 was adopted unanimously.

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