Larry Buckley

Larry Buckley - Valley High School - Class of 1976

Athletic Hall of Fame Induction 2023


 

Larry Buckley was a championship athlete who set the pace for the Valley Terriers in multiple sports in the mid-1970s. He earned four letters in football, two in basketball, and four in track during his high school career. Although he was a three-sport athlete in high school, the gridiron and the track are where Larry's star shined the brightest. Larry's track coach Dan Ahlrich stated, "Larry could flat-out fly. When he ran the hurdles, he was so smooth, you could barely tell there were hurdles in his path. He worked really hard at his craft and was a huge part of the district track titles we won back then." The culmination of all of Larry's hard work was winning the state title in the 120-yard high hurdles with a Valley High School record time of 14.5 seconds. He also placed 4th at the state meet in 180-yard low hurdles with a Valley High School record time of 20.6.

In football, Larry played center on offense and middle linebacker on defense. It is not common for a championship hurdler to play offensive line but Larry was the ultimate team player and loved the physical nature of playing in the trenches.

Former Valley Head Football Coach John Templeton said, "When Larry hit you, he would stop you in your tracks. It is very uncommon for your center and middle linebacker to be the best athlete on the team but that was certainly the case. Larry was also a great leader by example for those teams." Larry earned all-state honors after both his junior and senior football seasons and won the 1976 "Snuffy Samson" award as the Valley High School Senior Athlete of the Year.

After high school, Larry went on to marry his high school sweetheart, Rhonda Schneider Buckley and they have two adult children, Ryan Buckley and Tara Buckley Brokaw. Larry and Rhonda are also the proud grandparents of Elaina and Evan Buckley and Grant, Camden, and Emma Brokaw. Larry attended Northeast Community College to study construction management and worked in construction for 44 years, retiring in 2022. For the last 23 years, he was a Superintendent for Lueder Construction. Larry also spent 12 years on the Valley Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad as a Lieutenant.

Please welcome Valley High School great, Larry Buckley to the Douglas County West Hall of Fame!