Larry Wagner
Track/Cross Country - 1957-1959

Larry Wagner grew up in Coffeyville and attended Field Kindley High School. In football, he was an All-SEK Conference end on the undefeated 1956 team which was ranked 2nd in the State of Kansas. That season Larry caught 5 touchdown passes – including 2 in the 13-6 victory over Joplin, MO High School. In track, his senior year, he was undefeated in the 880 yard run, winning the event in the State AA track meet in 1:58.0. His time set a Coffeyville Field Kindley High School record; which stood for 40 years until 1997.

      Wagner arrived at CCC in the Fall of 1957; the same time as Dean Pryor, the legendary Red Ravens track coach. Wagner helped establish the Red Raven track dominance during the Pryor years (1958-1961), starting at the KU Relays in 1958. Wagner anchored the Sprint Medley Relay (1.55.4) and Mile Relay (49.4) resulting in record-setting victories.

      In 1959, the Red Ravens won the State Junior College Meet (Region). Larry won the 440, 880 and ran on the winning mile relay. At the National Meet, Wagner won the 880 yard run in 1:54.9.

      Wagner continued his education at Kansas State University (59-61) on a full track scholarship. He competed in Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track. He was captain of the cross country team in 1960. He finished first in the dual meet vs. Nebraska and placed 17th in the Big Eight Conference Championship meet.

Other races at KSU include:

      1st -- 4 X 880 yd. Relay  @Arkansas Relays

      1st Distance Medley  Relay @ Oklahoma State Relays

      1st 880 yd. Run @ Colorado Indoor Meet

      3rd 1000 yd. Run@ Michigan State Indoor Meet

      1st 880 yd. Run Dual meet against Missouri University

      3rd Place Mile Relay @Big 8 Conference Championship  meet

     
3rd Place in the 4 X 880 yd. relay at the KU Relays in 1961. The time of 7:36.2 broke the KSU School record. Larry ran 1:53.2

      He graduated from K-State in June of 1961 with a degree in Business Administration.

In 1964, Larry moved to Atlanta, GA to work for CIGNA Healthcare. He sold health plans to national corporations for their employees until his retirement in 2003. At CIGNA, he met Loise and they were married in 1971. They have 2 children. Craig who lives in Atlanta and Meredith who lives in Dubai, UAE with husband Malcolm, children Charlie (7) and Lily (5).

      In 2001, he helped establish the Dean Pryor Track Scholarship Fund, along with former Red Raven teammates Eddie Black and Dr. Wendall Goodwin. With the help of CCC, they also started the annual reunion of Coach Pryor’s athletes and alumni. It has continued for 14 years with Coach Pryor in attendance.  To date the Dean Pryor Scholarship Fund has received over $300,000 in donations.

      In retirement, Wagner took up biking and with former Red Raven Chet Wilcox completed the “Bike Ride Across the State of Kansas” in 2009. In 2012 and 2014, he rode in the Dubai 102 kilometer Bike Race with son-in-law Malcolm Wright.

      Finally, on his 76th birthday, he rode his bike 76 miles on the Silver Comet Trail in Atlanta.