Larry Don Cooney Sr.

Larry Don Cooney, Sr. was born February 20,1940, and died peacefully on April 3, 2024.  He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years and nine months, Mary Margaret; four adult children, Marabeth (Mark) Rogers, Luanne Cooney, Christy (Neal) Duden, and Larry Don Cooney, Jr.; four grandchildren, Blake (Rebecca) Duden, Jason Duden, Calvin Duden, and Bret Rogers; one great grandchild, Isabella Duden; and one sibling Diane McKale.  Larry is proceeded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Mary Cooney, and his brother David Cooney.

Larry grew up a small-town boy from Oak Hill, Kansas.  Raising pigs in 4-H and participating in all the activities available, especially sports, throughout his school years led him to Kansas State University.  There he earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and played football for K-State.  After graduating in 1962, Larry taught in the public schools of Stockton and later Russell, Kansas.

On the first day of orientation, as a secondary school teacher and coach, he met his future wife, Mary Margaret.  Larry would recount, “The first time I laid eyes on Mary Margaret I knew she was the one.”  After only one month Larry proposed marriage countering Mary Margaret’s, “But you don’t really know me,” with the response, “I know you well enough.”  They were married on Father’s Day, June 16, 1963.

As a coach of football, basketball, track, and wrestling, Larry was known for accepting any and all who wanted to participate.  “Our purpose is not to develop star players, but to expose all students to recreation.”  He emphasized mastering the basics and a “can-do” attitude encouraging his teams, “If you can perform the basics in your sleep, you don’t need the fancy moves.  You will win!”  It worked and led to several undefeated teams in wrestling and football.  Larry gave his teams goals, structure, self-esteem, and perseverance.  After seven years of teaching and coaching, Larry proceeded to Brigham Young University to complete a master’s degree in physical education and a Doctor of Education degree in physical education, therapeutic recreation, and college administration.

On September 1,1972, Larry was hired at Iowa State University to develop and coordinate university recreation programs, facilities, and services for the I.S.U. students, staff, and community.  He set to work with a talented and enthusiastic staff that would work with him throughout his tenure of 30 years.  Together they created an open recreation program and an outdoor recreation program where students, faculty, and staff could rent equipment and sign up for workshops and trips.  When Larry arrived at I.S.U. there were fewer than 10 sports clubs.  He grew it into 33.  His program offered special event trips across the country and expanded Iowa State’s Intramural program to include 60 different sports including a hot air balloon rally.  He made it one of the best recreation programs in the country.  “It was a great challenge and wide open—that’s why I came to Iowa State.”

Larry also continued to teach.  First, as an assistant professor and then associate professor for courses related to recreation programming, facility management, and leisure studies.   He felt it key to facilitate cooperation between the athletics, physical education, and recreation programs.  That connection was instrumental to the completion of Iowa State University’s multi-awarded and oft-duplicated Recreation/Athletic Facility Fitness Complex.

Larry’s dream for such a sports facility came to him long before the state-of-the-art building opened in April 1990.  In 1974, Larry submitted his first proposal and exhibiting the perseverance he had always coached to his teams, he submitted new proposals year after year until he finally got it built—16 years later—a recreation center for nearly every sport and for every person.  “Recreation is a key part of a student’s experience.  It is an important part of a total education.  We can’t leave anybody out”, Larry emphasized.

Larry retired as Director of Recreation Services and Associate Professor from Iowa State University in 2002, and continued to live in Ames, Iowa for several more years.  On a visit back to Beloit, Kansas he noticed that his dream house was up for sale and spent the next seven years residing there close to family and friends.  Next, was one last move out to Seattle, Washington where his son and eldest daughter and her family lived.

Larry was renowned for his gifts of positivity and kindness, passion for life, affable personality, laughing blue eyes, genuineness, and unwavering quiet strength.  He loved fishing, golf, road trips near and far, and family time.  He always had time for family!  Fond memories abound of him.  He could always be counted on as a wise resource, font of encouragement, an understanding, compassionate listener, and a popular and dependable leader.

That small-town boy accomplished many great things, and he made it feel almost easy in the way he modeled the work/life balance his legacy espoused — and all with integrity, inclusiveness, and humor.  His motto:  “Take one day at a time and allow yourself some positive leisure time.  I cannot emphasize enough the importance of personal leisure.  Now, let’s proceed!”