Step into the legacy of Larry Ryerson, a Crater High graduate from 1961, esteemed in the Achievement Hall of Fame.

A 1961 graduate from Crater, Larry was a three-year letterman in football was named All-Conference two years, was a two-year letterman in basketball, played baseball, and participated in track. In addition, he was in the Crater High band, FFA, and the Letterman’s Club. After graduation, Larry attended Southern Oregon State College where he played football for four years. While at SOSC, he was named to the Oregon Collegiate Conference All-Stars his junior and senior years and named to the Little All-American Team in his final year. His 1962 football team has been inducted into the Southern Oregon University Hall of Fame.

He graduated from Southern Oregon State College and in 1967 took a teaching and coaching job at Camas Valley. In 1969, Larry left Camus Valley and took a teaching and coaching position at Scenic Junior High School. For the next 31 years, Larry coached year-round, coaching football, basketball, and track at Scenic Junior High/Middle School. For some time in the 1970’s he coached in the Crater High football program as well as the track program, and in the 1990’s he served as an assistant coach in the Crater High girls’ basketball program. This level of coaching intensity the year around is unheard of today, and he didn’t just go through the motions and causally coach a middle school season. He took it seriously watching game films, maintaining equipment, and improving facilities.

Larry retired from teaching at Scenic in 1998, but he continued coaching as an assistant for girls’ basketball and working the Crater Classic and Crater Invitational track meets. He was a meet director for several Southern Oregon Conference district track meets as well. Never liking idle time, Larry also worked for 21 summers as a Forest Officer for the Oregon Department of Forestry, fighting wildland fires.

Over the years, Larry has coached more than 30 athletes who are Crater High graduates who are members of the Crater High School Athletic Hall of Fame. His positive impact on the hundreds of athletes he has coached is legendary.