Lamar Rotary Salutes Larry Bauer with Hometown Hero Certificate

Larry Bauer, Speaking at the Weekly Lamar Rotary Luncheon

 The Lamar Rotary has been saluting local veterans during their Friday luncheon meetings since this past Veteran’s Day observances in November.  Rotary President, Judy Turpin, presented the Rotary certificate to Larry Bauer last Friday, February 8, in honor of his military service and community service as well.   

The luncheon was made poignant with the announcement that Chris and Larry Bauer will be moving from Lamar just before the end of this month.  The Bauer’s, noted local radio broadcasters, had owned and operated KVAY since 1991 when they moved to town, purchasing the former KNIC radio station.  The station was sold about a decade later with Larry developing his own broadcast consultancy business while Chris began a career developing her own weekly syndicated radio program, interviewing and playing music from a host of country-western legendary performers.  

Larry Bauer related his early life in a farming community in North Dakota, describing his high school years when he was considered somewhere between rowdy and ornery.  “I graduated from high school on a Thursday and on Friday my football coach and the local sheriff were on hand to see me board the train to join the army,” he remarked. 

“The army taught me duty, responsibility and team work,” he continued.  His early period was spent in basic training and jump school and from there he settled in on his army career as a sergeant E-5, teaching guerilla tactics to infantry soldiers.  “It’s too bad that it’s not mandatory that all graduating high school seniors automatically go into the military to serve their country for a set amount of time,” he told the Rotary audience.  “I believe that experience would benefit them and eventually our country,” he added. 

Bauer took an active part in the Lamar community, serving as Lamar Chamber of Commerce President in 1994, helping develop SECCI, Southeast Colorado Cancer Initiative and other activities.  Bauer was also voted Small Market Broadcaster of the Year by the Colorado Broadcasters Association and he and Chris were well known for their high school wrestling reports.  Over the past several years, the couple has divided their time between Lamar and their renovated cottage on a small island situated in a lake that divides South Dakota from Minnesota.  Larry said he and Chris have an item on their bucket list they intend to accomplish in the near future.  “We’re going to take our motorcycles on a round trip along the Alaska Highway one day soon,” he said.   

Turpin, along with her presentation of the certificate, said that a children’s book will be purchased by the Lamar Rotary and given to the library with Larry’s name inscribed as the donor.

By Russ Baldwin
(Courtesy Photo: Lamar Ledger)