Sports fans have been an important part of the explosive success both collegiate and professional athletics has enjoyed. In 2013 a recognition award show was created to honor fans and their contribution to the sports industry it's called the What A Fan Awards. Its been held in Orlando Florida but will be relocated to Los Angeles California in 2016. Over the coming weeks we're going to introduce you to some of the countries most devoted fans of all genres of sports in their own words.
Ohio
How long have you been a fan?
Since 1957.
What triggered your passion sport sports?
Getting involved with school events in 1957 on Ohio State campus and following Woody Hayes.
Favorite sports moment?
2003 National Championship game in Tempe.
Who would you like to meet and why?
Payton Manning for he represents a positive image of a classy athlete and had focus on staying in school getting an education and a degree.
What charitable programs are you involved with?
Many- including several OSU Alumni Clubs on a regular basis including Greene County OSU Alumni where I am on the scholarship committee and active member of the club. Other clubs where I hold membership include the Franklin County OSU Alumni and was past president and a life member of the club. Several other specific clubs I have membership include Detroit Motor City OSU Alumni Club, Champaign County OSU Alumni Club; Farms Science Review Alumni Club plus several area OSU Alumni Clubs where I give donations including Delaware County, Knox County, Richland County, Marion County, Greater Cincinnati OSU Alumni Clubs just to name a few. Three years went on the "Buckeye Cruise For Cancer " and have served as emcee for local Relay For Life functions. To date I have donated over 1,090,000 buckeyes for various projects including one to each new student or transfer student coming to campus since 2002. For the past five years my donation to The Ohio State University have included an average of 30,000 donated buckeyes to the university ach year since 2010. Additionally have donated over 35,000 buckeye necklaces since making my first necklace in 1998 to a variety of individuals and groups. Since 2005 have donated over 1200 buckeye tree seedlings for fundraisers and scholarship winners going to Ohio State each year. My time donations average about 100 days annually to such groups as Epilepsy Foundation, Area Cancer Societies, area schools, 4-H clubs, FFA chapters where I have donated time coaching youth students from over 20mdifferent schools since retiring in 1996. Currently in my 33rd year as member of the National FFA Poultry Committee and starting my 46th year as a junior fair poultry judge. From 1962-1997 served as a 4-H adviser earning the Ruby Award From Ohio State Extension in 1997 and was a 25 year Division of Wildlife instructor for Ohio youth. My motto is different than what Woody Hayes promoted... to "PAY IT FORWARD" instead I pay it back by giving time donations and guest visits to variety of organization in thanks to Ohio State for providing me an education that allowed me to retire at age 54.
How does your family feel about your passion for sports?
Family is very supportive of my special drive to promote Ohio State. May 2015 marks a special a day for the third generation member of the Lokai Extended Family will earn degree #20 from Ohio State. Family members will earn a degree from Ohio State with five more degrees in progress with the grandchildren since five additional degrees are currently in progress from five other grandchildren currently enrolled at Ohio State and expected to peak in 2018 with the 25th degree.. I am proud to say I was our first family member to earn a degree in 1967, my wife has a degree fro Ohio State in 1977 as do three of my children. All three of my daughters met husbands either from Ohio State or in activities involving Ohio State and proud to say I have four brother-in-laws with OSU degrees. When the grandchildren were 7-8 years old each was given a special OSU jersey with a name to fit a special event or character such as Buckeye Boy, Buckeye Girl, Buckeye Babe, etc. Once each grandchild rea ched high school a special treat was to take them to one of the OSU football games on the 14th birthday. In 2000 when I won the "Screaming Halls of Fame" Loudest College Fan contest, many of my family members attended the event in South Bend. Last summer when I was selected to be on the cover of USA Weekend magazine, it was the family members who were supportive and helped promote the project.
How was your character created?
Scarlet and gray fright wig, red face paint with 13 stripes (original colonies) 7 # of buckeyes (number of Heisman Trophy winners from OSU) 8 buckeye necklaces (number of National Football Titles won by OSU)n and 111 buckeyes around neck (changes each year and is number of times we have played Michigan in football and will grow by one buckeye each year as 112 will be around my neck fall 2015); Red or gray pants, white or gray OSU jersey with letters BUCKEYEMAN on front and back of jersey b\plus either red or gray shoes and either red or gray gloves. Additionally have several signs we display at games with a variety of messages such as OSU Super Fan , Fan of the Week, special timely signs for specific games such as Were Nuts etc.
Share a humerus story about you or the team.
During the 2002 season I was giving the OSU Spirit Squad special necklaces ( as I do ever other year) before the OSU-Michigan game with individual names in each necklace. When I had the wrong spelling on one necklace, had to run about 1/4 mile back to my car and get the correct necklace spelling. While running back to the car I dropped my special game sign that read "Fiesta Bowl Bucks 13-0" so had to remake the yellow sign that I was going to display when we won the game and qualified for the National Championship game in Tempe. With a little creative artwork and two different letters, quickly made another sign, represented the correct spelled necklace to the OSU cheerleader, and displayed the sign as we rushed the field. As luck would have it, my sigh caught the eye of a Sports Illustrated Cameraman, and two weeks later it appeared on page 45 of Sports Illustrated December 2002 and was the same page number as the retired jersey of Archie Griffin, the only two time Heisman winner......... #45
What would winning the What A Fan Awards mean to you?
While I have my own web page www.osubuckeyeman.com with over 40,000 photos posted and a special FACEBOOK page Larry Buckeyeman Lokai with over 35,000 photos of activities and events that I spend over 100 days annually doing Buckeyeman events, it would take being a fan to another level. My gravestone has the OSU emblem already engraved, have met many fans from across the country as Buckeyeman and have been honored many times by civic groups, but winning this special honor would be like putting icing on a cake.
Learn more about the What A Fan Awards by visiting www.whatafanshow.com and if you or someone you know are devoted, passionate and fanatic sports fans let them know they too could be Nominated for this honor! #Fans247 #whatafan #whatafanawards #SportsFansConference
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