I met Larry back in the mid 90s when I would occassionally tag along with the Henderson County Gem and Mineral Society on one of their fieldtrips. Later, at the urging of Mark Stearn and Larry, I joined that club in 2003. I spent many fun times with Larry when I would volunteer at the museum and spend the afternoons cracking geodes and talking with the visitors. The museum was Larrys life. I think he enjoyed himself most when he was there working and helping people learn about the rocks and minerals on display. In his day, Larry was an active collector and has many beautiful specimens on display at his museum that represent his many collecting adventures.

Larry was one of those people who always had wisdom to share and a funny story to tell. One of my favorite stories he told me, was about a trip he made to the Propst Farm to collect corundum. He was there with another member digging for rubies and sapphires. Each piece he found, he would show it to the other fellow and ask what it was, ruby or sapphire? I couldn't understand why he would have to ask for the identification as he was an experienced rockhound. That was when he told me he had been color blind all his life. He could not see red or blue or green! That disability did not stop Larry from recovering one of the finest ruby specimens I have ever seen from that mine. It is on display today at the Henderson County Mineral and Lapidary Museum.

We will miss you Larry. And from this day on, when I walk into the Henderson County Mineral and Lapidary Museum. I will always remember you at work in your office or out helping crack a geode for some excited child.

Rick Jacquot