Larry Paul Wooten

Larry Paul Wooten, 85, passed away on Friday, August 16, 2025, at his home in Miami, Florida. He was born on May 6, 1940, to Paul and Leona Wooten and spent his childhood in Coffeyville, Kansas.

An avid sports enthusiast from a young age, Larry's passion for athletics shaped his life. Once, as a boy, with a baseball in hand, he hopped a train to stake out Babe Ruth's hotel and secure a cherished autograph. He discovered a lifelong passion for golf while working as a caddy one summer at the Coffeyville golf course, earning money and free tee times as he spent from sunup to sundown immersed in the game. He excelled in high school baseball, football, basketball, and golf. Larry was a devoted Jayhawks fan and was rarely seen without a Jayhawks emblem on his clothing, hat, or car.

Larry proudly served in the U.S. Air Force (1961-1965), spending part of his deployment in Okinawa, Japan. After completing college at Pittsburg State University in 1968, he accepted a position in Miami teaching middle school PE, which included coaching cross-country and track. Coach Wooten's gift for instilling his love of sports and drawing the best from his athletes defined his career. His teams at Miami Springs Middle School dominated the 1980s, capturing numerous county championships in cross-country. In the 1990s through the early 2000s, his Hammock Hurricanes achieved remarkable success, winning all four team divisional cross-country county championships in a single year on multiple occasions.

In the early 1990s, Larry and a few friends founded Track Timing & Data Management, a company that provided timing and data services for cross-country and track events in Dade County, Florida.

For many years, he traveled each summer to New Mexico to time events at the state track and field championships. He also ventured to Texas, braving the intense summer heat, to time races at the annual Games of Texas. In 1998, he established the Larry Wooten Invitational track event in Miami. Over six decades, Coach Wooten touched countless lives through his dedication to athletics. Even as recently as last year, he could be found clearing foliage and debris from the local park track to ensure a safe path for cross-country runners.

Larry thrived on staying active and held several intriguing part-time jobs over the years. He ran the chains on the field for Miami Dolphins games, worked at the Miami dog track races, and forged deep friendships while making deliveries for Imagination Station and Station America.

Larry was kind, generous, sharp-minded and a man of his word. He devoted his heart and soul to uplifting young people through cross-country and track, serving as a motivator, mentor, and lifelong friend to countless educators and athletes. South Florida's cross-country and track and field communities are stronger today thanks to his tireless efforts and innovative spirit. The region has lost a true legend. Larry loved making a difference through his work and friendships and had no plans to stop until the Lord called him home.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 10:30 am at Restlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel in the Garden of Devotion. To leave a message of condolence or share a memory visit his obituary page www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com