A friendship that began in Herington Kansas, at Herington High School between Larry Wild and Jerry Smith carried on throughout college years and beyond. Both young men enrolled at Kansas State Teachers College beginning in 1958. They both pledged Sigma Tau Gamma. This friendship was culminated last month in a pregame ceremony in honor of the late Larry Wild and the gift he arranged to give to Emporia State University athletics.
Wild earned degrees in 1964 and 1970 from the college — which became Emporia State University — and went on to a 30-year career coaching baseball players and teaching social studies in high schools in the Kansas City, Missouri, area. He took pride in teaching players how to succeed not only on the field, but in the classroom as well.
Wild was inducted into the Missouri Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1994, and also served as a professional, part-time baseball scout for several Major League Baseball organizations, including the Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets.
He was devoted to sports, and to Hornet sports in particular. When not on the road as a scout, Wild often took his seat in Section 8 of White Auditorium to watch the Lady Hornets play basketball, or behind home plate at Trusler Sports Complex, manning a radar gun as he watched Hornet baseball and softball teams.
Before his death in April 2010, he established the Larry Wild, Teresa Wild and Walter Wild Athletic Scholarship, which was subsequently funded with just under $378,000 in proceeds from Wild’s estate.
His generous gift will benefit baseball, softball and women’s basketball programs at Emporia State.
Kent Weiser, Emporia State’s director of athletics, said that Wild’s support, both in person at the games and through a legacy gift after his passing, was essential to maintaining the programs.
“Larry was a terrific guy, and the baseball, softball and women’s basketball programs meant a great deal to him,” Weiser said. “It was always so nice to see him. I don’t know that he ever missed a home game, even as his health declined. Even near the end, he would still want to come out to Trusler and watch our teams.”
Before the Emporia State Hornets’ game on April 11 against Northwest Missouri, his longtime friend, Jerry Smith of Iola, participated in a ceremony to celebrate Wild’s life to mark the final step of the major planned gift to university athletics.
The young men had met in 1960 at KSTC. They joined Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity and forged a bond that lasted a lifetime and beyond.
Smith, accompanied by grandson Dominic Smith, was introduced to the crowd at the ceremony, before taking the mound to throw the first pitch to Hornet catcher Shawn Talkington.
Smith and his wife, Jackie, were responsible for handling and selling Wild’s properties and administering his estate, which recently was completed.
“The university and its athletic department deeply appreciate Larry Wild’s gift and his foresight in planning to support the Hornets even after he had passed,” said Emporia State President Dr. Michael D. Shonrock. “His ties to the university and his loyalty to Emporia State athletics remained steadfast for more than 50 years. We are grateful, too, to Jerry and Jackie Smith for all of the work they did on behalf of our mutual friend and our university.”
In addition to the Smiths, among Wild’s friends who attended from out of town were the Smiths’ son Kris Smith and four of their grandchildren, Korbin and Dominic Smith and Britain and Baron Folk; Paul and Joye Cohan of Herington; and Travis Chambers of Grain Valley, Missouri.
Chambers was recruited by Wild and later went on to play professional baseball. He was one of many athletes who benefitted from Wild’s experience in and enthusiasm for sports.
Through the Larry Wild, Teresa Wild and Walter Wild Athletic Scholarship established with the Emporia State University Foundation, many Hornet athletes will continue to benefit for years to come.
Launched by the Foundation in February 2013, Now & Forever: The Campaign for Emporia State University is a five- to seven-year effort with a working goal of $45 million. It is already the most successful fund-raising initiative in university history, with financial commitments now exceeding $35 million.
The campaign supports student scholarships, academic departments and initiatives that advance Emporia State’s mission to recruit students, teach and retain them, encourage them to graduate with lower levels of student debt, and ultimately put them on a path to a solid career.
For more information about Now & Forever giving opportunities, contact DenaSue Potestio, Emporia State University Foundation president/CEO, dpotesti@emporia.edu, 620-341-5440.