Larry Banner
| Larry Banner | |
|---|---|
 A sketch of Banner from the Los Angeles Daily News in 1953. | |
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Larry Shyres Banner |
| Born | June 4, 1936 Van Nuys, California, U.S. |
| Died | November 28, 2013 (aged 77) Modesto, California, U.S. |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Gymnastics career | |
| Discipline | Men's artistic gymnastics |
Country represented | United States |
College team | UCLA Bruins (1955–1957) |
| Club | Los Angeles Turners |
Head coach | Ralph Borelli |
Former coaches |
|
| Retired | c. 1964 |
Lawrence Shyres Banner (June 4, 1936 – November 28, 2013) was an American gymnast. He was a member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team and competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics and the 1964 Summer Olympics.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Banner was born on June 4, 1936, in Van Nuys, California. At seven years old, he was diagnosed with polio which required the use of a wheelchair and later crutches.[2] He continued to take special physical education classes until the 10th grade.[2] Banner attended Van Nuys High School where he was able to participate in various sports, including gymnastics under coach Barney Quinn, by 11th grade.[2][3][4] He excelled in gymnastics and later attended Los Angeles Valley College where he competed for their gymnastics team from 1954 to 1955 under coach Al Arps.[5][6] He later enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles to pursue gymnastics.
Gymnastics career
[edit]While at student at UCLA, Banner was a member of the UCLA Bruins men's gymnastics team. He began competing for UCLA for the 1955-56 season as a junior.[7][8][9] His last season with the Bruins was 1957.[10]
Post-gymnastics life
[edit]Banner was a teacher and taught for 16 years at Turlock High School.[3] He curated the website, www.gymnasticshalloffame.org, which included detailed biographies of those influential to the sport where coverage from USA Gymnastics was lacking.[3] Contributors to his research included fellow USA Gymnastics Hall of Famers Abie Grossfeld and Jerry Wright.[3]
Banner died on November 28, 2013, in Modesto, California.[2]
References
[edit]- ↑ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Larry Banner Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
- 1 2 3 4 "Obituaries". The Modesto Bee. Vol. 136, no. 338. December 4, 2013. p. B4. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 Holliday, Tom (October 15, 2006). "Getting to know them". The Modesto Bee. pp. C1 & C5. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ↑ "Prep Gym Teams In Loop Meets". San Fernando Valley Times. Vol. 17, no. 180. April 7, 1953. p. 6. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
- ↑ "Larry Banner Competes in AAU Affair". Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet. Vol. 43, no. 112. April 28, 1955. p. 4-C. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
- ↑ "Valley JC wins loop gym title". Los Angeles Daily News. April 9, 1954. p. 40. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
- ↑ Klann, Ernie (February 22, 1956). "Valley Sports Corral". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. Vol. 51, no. 281. p. 11. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
- ↑ "Gymnastics Ace". Sunday Journal and Sentinel. Vol. 55, no. 12. March 18, 1956. p. 11B. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
- ↑ "L.A. Teacher Wins AAU Gym Title". Los Angeles Times. Vol. LXXV, no. 147. April 28, 1956. p. 9. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
- ↑ "AAU Gymnasts Vie at Venice Hi". Evening Vanguard. Vol. XXXIV, no. 232. March 7, 1958. p. 12. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Larry Banner at World Gymnastics
- Larry Banner at the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame
- Larry Banner at Olympics.com
- Larry Banner at Olympedia
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