Lawrence Brunner

Category
2008
About This Inductee

Larry earned six high school letters from Wilkinsburg High School and won seven state medals and ten district medals in track and cross country 1951-1954. He also won two college letters and medals 1954-1955. From 1955-1957 he served with the military, next graduating from Slippery Rock College. Larry instituted the track program and coached at Shenango Area High School, competing without an actual track and against schools three times their size. Between 1961-1967 their track record was 30-13 and 1962-1967 their cross country record was 22-22. In 1967 he and his assistant had a track built and began the Shenango relays. In August of 1967, Larry moved to the Wyoming Valley and began coaching at Wyoming Valley West High School. Between 1967-1983 the boys cross country record was 144-70. 1967-1984 the boys track record was 150-37-3. 1975-1983 the girls cross country record was 39-13 and 1976-1984 the girls track team had a record of 90-8. He began the Wyoming Valley West Relays in 1968, winning in 1973-1976-1978-1980 and runners up in 1968-1969-1970-1972-1977-1981. He coached Jordan relay-winners (Scranton) — boys 1968-1969-1970-1972-1973-1977-1978 and girls 1982-1983-1984. Larry also served as president of the PIAA Track Coaches Association in 1972 and in 1976 was chairman of the Luzerne County Bicentennial Commission’s Relay Run. Larry retired from coaching at Wyoming Valley West in June of 1984. In 1987 he returned to coaching as a junior high assistant coach at Wyoming Area School District. The 1987 boys were District Champs (10-0-0). From 1987-1990 the boys team had a record of 27-10 and the 1990 girls team had a record of 6-1-1. In June 1992 Larry retired from both teaching (34 ‘/2 years) and coaching (30 years). His total career varsity record is 516-189-3. Married to the former Mary Patricia Manganella since 1972, the Brunners reside in the Wilkes-Barre area.