Inductees

Sometimes, life grabs you by the coattails and pulls you in another direction. And sometimes they aren’t coattails at all but your eyes, ears and voice so that the athletic events of smalltown high school athletes can be broadcast on air.

That’s exactly what happened to Larry Cowger.

“In 1998, a gentleman from the radio station approached Mark Elliott, who was a state representative at the time, and me to broadcast Carl Junction football games,” Cowger recalled. “At the first game, I asked Mark, ‘Do you want to do the play-by-play or the color?’ He said, ‘You do the play-by-play and I will do the color, I can fill in about anything.’”

And now look. Cowger is considered the Voice of Carl Junction High School Athletics, and his professionalism in a 26-year career – it’s still going – is why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted him with the Class of 2025.

His passion for sports and dedication to the student-athletes has been unwavering, and his enthusiasm resonates with everyone who tunes in to hear him broadcast games on the radio and livestream.

His involvement with Carl Junction Athletics goes well beyond his role behind the microphone. He offers encouragement, and builds relationships with the students, coaches and fans. His positive energy and commitment to promoting sports in the community have left an indelible mark on Carl Junction.

In addition to his broadcasting contributions, Cowger has been a valued member of the Carl Junction Board of Education since 2001. During his tenure, he has played an instrumental role in expanding athletic opportunities for students by approving the establishment of programs such as girls soccer, girls swimming, boys and girls tennis, dance team, archery and trap shooting.

His leadership on the Board has led to significant improvements in the district’s athletic facilities, including new turf, track resurfacing, upgraded scoreboards, and enhancements to seating, the press box, and the sound system at Bulldog Stadium.

Most recently, under his leadership, the community passed an $18.5 million bond issue with a new athletic complex as the anchor project. His advocacy for these improvements has helped elevate the experience for athletes and spectators alike.

More on all that in a second. It’s his work on Friday night football and weeknight and weekend basketball games where he brings to life all the good about high school athletics.

“It’s a small town and that gives you a great feeling of belonging,” Cowger said. “Recognizing kids on the athletic field or court is so special. The kids deserve it. I love to see their successes, and I want to recognize them for that.”

When he calls football games, it’s to just tell what is happening. In basketball, considering he was a referee for 23 years, he calls games almost effortlessly. His prep work makes the difference.

“I look up team records, any video I can find and ask coaches for stats,” Cowger said. “After so many years of doing this, I try and recall what happened the last two times the teams met.”

Even better, the broadcasts are full of stories about players and coaches.

“I love to tell what a player has done in a committee or volunteered in school, or something great they did in the last game. It’s all about the kids,” Cowger said.

Sports have always held a special place in his heart. A Joplin High School graduate, Cowger was a student manager on Joplin’s 1967 state championship basketball team.

Away from the press box, he’s used his time on the school board to help enhance the district.

“I can’t take credit for that,” Cowger said. “It was a school board decision to bring improvements to the community. Our kids deserve the best we can afford to give them and, as a board, we try to do that. Nice facilities are the front door to your school, and yes it attracts families to want to be part of CJ. We also have great teachers, and education is a very important part of CJ.”

Over the years, he counts Ted Clowers, Bill Hall and Harold Thompson as mentors.

Even better, his wife of 53 years, Karen, has been supportive of his time away for games. They are parents to Shane, Bryan and Kasey.

“It’s everything to me,” Cowger said of giving back to Carl Junction. “It keeps me feeling young. I love the kids. It’s pretty cool when you are in somewhere like Subway and the person in front of you says, ‘I recognize that voice.’”