Lawrence Small

Lawrence, “Larry”, was born in the old Sheridan hospital April 28th, 1938. He attended school in Sheridan, graduating in 1956. He left for UW with a soccer scholarship and graduated in 1961. That’s the same year he met and married Jill Strohmaier in Laramie, Wy. They just celebrated their 65th anniversary. His plans after graduation were to teach and coach. Sports were always a big part of his life. Unfortunately, the Vietnam War was escalating so he had to put those plans on hold. He joined the Navy in 1962 and headed for Newport R.I and officer training. San Francisco was his first duty station after graduation. He spent 18 months in the Bay Area on a radar picket ship, the INTERDICTOR. Their first son, John, was born at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital before they left for his second duty station on Adak, Alaska in the Aleutian Islands. Larry loved his job on Adak as the Recreation Officer. He built a movie theater, bowling alley and ski area while there. Adak was known as the “Birthplace of the Winds” and it was a rugged place to live. Their second son, Chris, was born there. Traveling down the AlCan highway in 1964 was another adventure he loved. Imagine traveling and camping with two little guys. Washington DC became home to his final tour of duty. While in Washington, the war escalated even more and after giving the Navy 8 years, he decided to trade the beltway for the cornfields of Nebraska and coaching and teaching in a small school. Bradshaw was a typical small school, and it was an opportunity of a lifetime for coaching. His farm kids produced many championship teams while he was there. He and his family continued moving west teaching and coaching before they had an opportunity to get back to Sheridan. Many people will remember Small’s Ice Cream Shop in Kendrick. He and the family started it and ran it for many summers while teaching in the winter in Medicine Bow and Wheatland. Each summer they ran the park stand and bought rental property that the family renovated. 1979 was the year he made the biggest career change when he had the opportunity to buy a Burger King franchise. With the help of his family, he ended up owning and operating 7 Burger King restaurants in Sheridan, Gillette (3), Cody, Riverton and Powell before they sold out in 2005.

Cremation has taken place and no plans for a service as per his wishes.