Larry York is a thoughtful, giving, creative individual with vision. Born in Hitchcock, Texas and educated in the Galveston Independent School District, Larry graduated from Ball High School in Galveston, Texas. He continued his studies on a four-year tennis scholarship and Moody Academic Scholar Grant at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.
His move to Los Angeles would allow him to meet his objective to create programs that educate, impact and assist those in need, via sports and entertainment event planning, public relations and broadcast ventures.
In 1977 as a promoter/special events coordinator for Women in Tennis/Women in Sports, Inc., in Beverly Hills, owned and operated by women’s tennis pioneer, Rosie Casals, Larry worked closely as her assistant.
He, along with Rosie, and Shari Barman, were responsible for introducing professional women’s and men’s tennis tournaments to San Antonio, Texas in 1978.
Mr. York was a participant in Billie Jean King’s ABC-TV special “Salute to Women’s Sports” in Las Vegas, as well as created a concept exclusively for the advertising, broadcasting and entertainment industries for Ms. King’s recreational Domino’s Pizza Team Tennis … another first, but not the last “first!”
By 1984, he created the United States Men’s Pageant, a national scholarship event for college men showcasing the complete man … physically, mentally and academically … “the first event of its kind” that created many copycats to this day, including Cosmopolitan magazine’s Cosmo Man, Sexiest Man, Mr. Hard Hat, Mr. Blue Collar, U.S. Man of the Year, The Bachelor/Bachelorette, etc. The production debuted on the Phil Donahue Show. York was offered a segment producer job by Donahue producer, Jose Pretlow, but politely declined. Pretlow went on to produce Geraldo, Sally Jesse Raphael, Leeza Gibbons.
As executive producer of his own production company, Larry’s innovative direction flourished while still working full time in tennis and at various advertising agencies such as DJMC, Wells/ Rich/Greene, Bozell/Jacobs/Kenyon/Eckhardt, Havas/Dentsu/Marstellar, Evans Advertising, and Adweek Magazine. He produced and supervised sales promotion projects for Bud Light, Reebok, Hind-Wells performance wear, Hawaiian Tropic, Barbados Board of Tourism, Columbia Pictures, Nautilus Aerobics Plus (Bally’s) fitness centers, and Domino’s Pizza, to name a few. He also spent countless hours assisting charitable causes including the first “televised” Lou Rawl’s United Negro College Fund Telethon, Bill Cosby’s fundraisers for the Salvation Army, Lucille Ball’s benefit for Children’s Hospital, Cystic Fibrosis, T.J. Martell Foundation for pediatric Aids, Cancer and Leukemia research, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Special Olympics, Easter Seals, benefits involving the homeless, abused and battered mothers/children, first responders killed or critically injured in the line-of-duty, American Heart Association, Multiple Sclerosis, childhood education, and many more.
2012 and 2013 were the years Mr. York wrapped up the first ever “live” broadcasts of the 43rd and 44th Rotary Lombardi Awards, honoring the top college lineman in the country, shown on CBS Sports Network. The event was hosted and executive-produced by acclaimed sportscaster and NFL Super Bowl winner, Spencer Tillman. Larry served as coordinating producer, associate director, and assistant stage manager of the awards program. Prior to the Lombardi Awards, Larry was also an event manager for the NFL’s Super Bowl XXXVIII Fan Experience in Houston, Texas.
Last, but not least, in January of 2007, Larry created something else that has never been done … “Athletes in Acting Awards,” an awards program honoring professional athletes for their performances on television, radio, stage, in movies, and print ads; pro sports version of the Emmy’s, Oscar’s, Tony’s, ESPY’s & Clio awards wrapped into one. AIAA’s mission is to commit to helping enrich entertainment relating to sports; promote excellence in performance and production projects of professional athletes, sports journalists, and sports franchise owners; expand their fan base and endorsement opportunities in the international advertising, media and performing arts industries, and assist communities in need of support.
If you or your organization is interested in having Mr. York conduct insightful “inspirational/motivational” conversations at an upcoming event, be it a sports affiliation, student assembly, seminar, conference, fundraiser, etc., feel free to contact him via info@athletesinactingawards.com or phone 469-616-5913.