About Larry York
Larry York is a trendsetting, trailblazing athlete, executive producer/director,
events coordinator, and community servant. Born in Hitchcock, Texas, Larry
graduated from Ball High School in Galveston. He continued his studies on a
four-year tennis scholarship and Moody Academic Scholar Grant at Sam
Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.
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Upon receiving his BFA degree in Drama, Radio-TV, Film, his move to Los
Angeles would allow him to meet his objective: create programs that educate,
impact and assist those in need, via sports and entertainment event planning,
public relations and broadcast ventures.
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He began his career as an administrative assistant, promoter/special events
coordinator for Women in Tennis/Women in Sports, Inc., in Beverly Hills, owned
and operated by the legendary women’s tennis pioneer, Rosie Casals. Larry
worked closely as her assistant.
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He, along with Rosie, and Shari Barman, were responsible for introducing
professional women’s and men’s tennis tournaments to San Antonio,Texas.
Mr. York was a participant in the ABC-TV Special “Billie Jean King’s Salute to
Women’s Sports” in Las Vegas. He created a sports competition concept
exclusively for the advertising, broadcasting and entertainment industries for Mrs.
King’s recreational Domino’s Pizza Team Tennis … another first, but not the last
“first!”
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1984 saw the creation of the United States Men’s Pageant, a national
scholarship event for college men showcasing the complete man … physically,
mentally and academically … “the first event of its kind” that created many
copycats to this day, including Cosmopolitan magazine’s Cosmo Man, Sexiest
Man Alive, Mr. Hard Hat, Mr. Blue Collar, U.S. Man of the Year, ABC’s “The
Bachelor/Bachelorette” franchises, etc. The production debuted on the Phil
Donahue Show in Chicago. Mr. York was offered a segment producer position on
the program, but politely declined and returned to Los Angeles.
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As executive producer of his own production company, Larry York Productions,
Larry’s innovative direction flourished while still working full time in tennis and at
various top-notch advertising agencies in L.A. His productions enlisted sponsors
such as Bud Light, Reebok, Hind-Wells performance wear, Hawaiian Tropic,
Barbados Board of Tourism, Columbia Pictures, Nautilus Aerobics Plus (Bally’s)
fitness centers, and Domino’s Pizza, to name a few. He also spent countless
hours assisting charitable causes including the first “televised” Lou Rawl’s United
Negro College Fund Telethon, Bill Cosby’s fundraisers for the Salvation Army,
Lucille Ball’s benefit for Children’s Hospital, Cystic Fibrosis, T.J. Martell
Foundation for Pediatric Aids, Cancer and Leukemia research, Juvenile Diabetes
Foundation, Special Olympics, Easter Seals, benefits involving the homeless,
abused and battered mothers/children, first responders killed or critically injured
in the line-of-duty, American Heart Association, Multiple Sclerosis, childhood
education, and many more.
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In 2012 and 2013, Mr. York wrapped up the first ever “live” televised broadcasts
of the 43 rd and 44 th Rotary Lombardi Awards, honoring the top college lineman in
the country, shown on the CBS Sports Network and ESPN. The event was
hosted and executive-produced by acclaimed sportscaster and NFL Super Bowl
champ, Spencer Tillman. Larry served as coordinating producer, associate
director, and assistant stage manager of the awards program. Prior to the
Lombardi Awards, Larry was also an event manager for the NFL’s Super Bowl
XXXVIII Fan Experience in Houston, Texas.
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January of 2007, Larry created something else that has never been done …
“Athletes in Acting Awards,” an awards program honoring professional athletes
for their performances via movies, television, radio, stage, and print ads; in other
words, the pro athletes’ version of the Oscar’s, Emmy’s, Tony’s, ESPY’s and Clio
advertising awards wrapped into one.
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Most recently, Mr. York formed Athletes in Acting Awards’ Hand Up Foundation,
a 501c3 non-profit organization designed to award scholarships to student-
athletes majoring in radio, television, film, the arts, advertising and marketing.
The Foundation is also geared to provide mentorship to student-athletes, as well.