Lawrence B. "Larry" Cotlar

Lawrence B. "Larry" Cotlar

Des Moines - Lawrence ""Larry"" Bruce Cotlar was born on February 20, 1952 in St. Louis. MO. to Sally Ruth Cotlar Luftman and Martin Cotlar. Larry attended primary and secondary schools in St. Louis and Des Moines. He graduated from Valley High School, West Des Moines, IA in 1970. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree (BA) in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO. Larry was an award-wining broadcaster, author and writer. He loved ""The Beatles"", Blues and Rock and Roll.
Larry had many years of experience with thousands of people as a radio disc jockey, radio broadcaster, writer, author, and his work with non-profit organizations. He started his professional career in the early seventies by working as a disc jockey playing Blues and Rock and Roll on several small radio stations in Missouri and Iowa. He got his first job doing talk radio in 1981. His "Cotlar and Company" show ran on KXNO-AM 1460 from 2001 to 2009. He also appeared on 1700 AM and 1350 AM. He started broadcasting Drake men's basketball, originally with Drake legend Dolph Pulliam, in 2005.
Larry was well-known for his many sports contacts. He demonstrated an ability to interact with people and make them feel welcome.
Larry was the radio voice of the Drake University Men's Basketball Team since 2006. He was also involved with the Iowa Barnstormer's radio and televisions broadcasting since 2008. He hosted a weekly sports telecast on the ""CW Iowa Live"" at KCWI-TV.
Previously Larry was an independent host-producer at ESPN Radio-KRNT, in Des Moines where he conducted interviews with national and local sports and entertainment personalities. He formerly worked as a co-host and producer at KBGG Radio, Urbandale IA, and with KXNO Radio in Des Moines, IA. He hosted and co-produced the ""Larry Cotlar Show"" on KTRS Radio, in St. Louis, MO. He was further employed as the Media Relations Manager for the Iowa Barnstormers-Indoor Football League.
Larry was named Iowa Broadcaster of the Year by the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters in 2007. He was inducted into the media wing of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame the same year.
Larry was a freelance writer and had published his first book, ""The Biggest Rolodex in Sports"" in July of 2015. Larry was also a periodic contributing writer to the Iowa History Journal where he wrote articles about sports figures and events from Iowa past. He was also a periodic contributing writer to the Iowa Sports Spotlight Magazine.
Larry was on the Board of Directors of the Lupus Foundation of America, Iowa Chapter, Des Moines, IA. He served as media consultant and worked with committees to set up the annual ""Walk to End Lupus Now"". He was awarded the Dale and Marilyn Howard Fan of the Year Award in 2018 by Coaches and Cancer, Inc. He was a volunteer coach and announcer for the Kiwanis Miracle League, Des Moines, and worked as Master of Ceremonies for the Regatta Easter Seals, Des Moines, IA, and the Coaches vs. Cancer Outing sponsored by the American Cancer Society, Des Moines, IA. He was a member of the Healthy State Initiative Walk Committee and was on the Board of Directors of the Impact Missions, Des Moines, IA.
A great son, husband, father and friend, Larry leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife Deb, two sons, Zac Couture (Sara) and Zachary; his mother Sally Ruth Luftman; a brother Lance Luftman (Kris); two grandchildren, Oliver and Frederic; and a host of special aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. His father, Martin Cotlar and his stepfather Bill Luftman preceded him in death.
Larry passed away on July 1, 2018. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, July 5, 2018 at Temple B'nai Jeshurun, 5101 Grand Avenue, Des Moines. Interment will be at Woodland Emanuel Jewish Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make your donations at the GoFundMe website ""Larry Cotlar Memorial Fund"". Part of the collected funds will be given to the Lupus Foundation. Larry believed that: "Excellence is not a singular act but a habit. You are what you do repeatedly." Shaquille O'Neal.
The family wishes to thank family, friends, and neighbors for their outpouring show of love, support and expressions of sympathy. As well as John Pettit and the entire Iowa Barnstormer's Organization, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Corinthian Baptist Church and Temple B'nai Jeshurun, Jack and Jill of American, Inc. Des Moines Alumni Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Deb's Dowling Family and iHeart Media and all national and local media.