Crawford carried skills, zest for life to the West Coast
(Editor's note: This is Part 2 of a two-part story about the late Larry Crawford, a standout athlete at Donora High School in the 1960s.)
Larry Crawford was ineligible to play varsity sports during his senior year (1965-66) at Donora High School, because of his age, but past performances brought a scholarship from Bakersfield Junior College in Bakersfield, California his way.
Crawford, considered one of the best all-around athletes in DHS history, died Thursday, April 2 at his home in Sacramento, Calif. He was 69.
“Larry really loved California and chose to make his home there,” said his brother, Gary Crawford of Charleroi, also a 1966 graduate of Donora High School. “He played (college) football there, started a family and lived there the rest of his life.”
In addition to All-WPIAL and All-State honors while playing football at Donora, Larry Crawford received national attention.
The 1964 edition of Official Football magazine named him and teammate tackle Bill Urbanik to the first team on the District 2 (Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey) All American Scholastic Team. Also on the District 2 first team was a versatile end-halfback-quarterback from Riverdale, New York named Calvin Hill. Urbanik, by the way, also made the magazine's overall First Team in the national selections.
Crawford played at Bakersfield Junior College in 1966 – as an interior lineman.
On Nov. 26, 1966, he underwent surgery to correct recurring problems with the knee that was injured in a game against Clairton High School in 1964.
Crawford recovered and transferred to Hartnell Junior College in Salinas, Calif., for the 1967 season.
Listed as a 6-1, 230-pound fullback, he continued making his mark as a runner with the Panthers. He gained 175 yards on 21 carries in his first two starts at Hartnell and was named Player of the Week in the California Junior College Conference on Oct. 12 after scoring two touchdowns, kicking an extra point and rushing for 118 yards on eight carries in a win over DeAnza College.
Hartnell won the state championship that season.
According to Santa Cruz newspaper accounts, he led the Panther in rushing and scoring in 1969 and was a first team selection on the All West Coast Conference team. His biggest game, as reported in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, came on Nov. 2, when he scored three touchdowns and carried 20 times for 141 yards in a 34-21 victory Cabrille College.
Crawford's obituary indicated that he also played at California State University at Sacramento (Sacramento State), but school records were not available.
Crawford lived life to its fullest after his football career ended.
He was employed at the University of California Davis Medical Center, a major academic medical facility, for over 20 years before retiring.
“He loved working at the medical center,” said Crawford's brother, Gary Crawford of Charleroi, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam. “He was devoted to caring for and caring about his patients and performed various duties – orderly, the emergency room, therapist.”
Larry's work in health care was appreciated by the UCDMC patients.
“You missed your calling in life,” the wife of a patient said in a letter to Crawford. “You are the best therapist in this hospital … thank you for your friendliness and interest in our family … we feel like you are a friend … things couldn't have turned out better for my husband.”
His other qualities were emphasized at a Celebration of Life honoring his memory April 20 at Sunset Lawn Chapel of The Chimes in Sacramento.
“He loved life,” the obituary program said. “His laughter, friendship, kindness and arm presence will be missed by all. He had an exuberant joy about him. When he walked into a room, you knew it. There was always a smile on his face and a friendly greeting for everyone. He was a very generous man and he will be remembered with so much love by everyone who knew him.”
The obituary also recounted that he enjoyed bowling and karaoke.
Crawford's sister, Sandra Crawford Law of Monongahela, called the services “very poignant … very appropriate for a wonderful man.”
In addition to Sandra and Gary, Larry is survived by three brothers, Samuel Crawford of Donora, James Crawford of New York City and Gregory Crawford of West Newton.
They are five of 11 children born to the late Samuel and Rose Mae Crawford of Donora. Deceased siblings are Julia, Mary, Clarence, George and Clifford.
Gary Crawford and Sandra Law said Larry exemplified many of the traits of their mother, who was 93 when she died in 2008.
“My father died at age 61 in 1952, when I was only seven years old,” Mrs. Law said. “Our mother had her hands full with eleven children. But we all knew who was in charge. There was never any fighting among the siblings, no arguments. Mom was wonderful, a loving and wise woman who taught us about love, respect, loyalty … all the qualities that Larry and the rest of us carried into life.”
Larry also is survived by two daughters, Ellen and Laurie, both of Sacramento; six grandchildren, Lakeisha, Dominique, Jordan, DeMarco, Laila and Kumani, and a great-grandson, Benjamin IV.
“He loved and cherished all his family, especially his children and grandchildren,” it was said at the Celebration of Life, which was led by Pastor Ronnie Howard.
“That really says it all about Larry as a man,” Sandra Law said. “There was more to him than football and sports – much more. His daughters told me he didn't want to talk much about his many accomplishments as an athlete. He was a humble man who didn't care to talk about himself.”
That aversion to self-importance is admirable, but others continue to talk about the man in appreciation of his achievements.
Donora High School produced many outstanding running backs – and all-around athletes – over its many years of its existence under that banner. Larry Crawford certainly earned his place among them.
(If you have memories to share or a story idea, contact Ron Paglia at ronpaglia@verizon.net or c/o The Valley Independent, Eastgate 19, Monessen, PA 15062.)
Ron Paglia is a freelance writer for Trib Total Media.
