Larry GordonAug. 3, 1916 - Dec. 25, 2009Larry Gordon, 93 of Albany passed away Friday.He was born Gordon Lawrence Combs to David and Ethel Combs in Homeplace, Hamilton County, Indiana.  He grew up in the Broadripple neighborhood of Indianapolis and was a high school athletic star.  He attended Purdue and the University of Iowa.  He starred in basketball while studying drama at Carnegie Tech.  In 1940 he began his broadcasting career in Springfield, Ohio doing high school & college sports, minor league baseball and American Legion boxing.  He returned to Indianapolis where he worked Purdue and Indiana Big Ten football.  On July 3, 1943 he married Jenny Lind Duncan (Lindy).  They moved to New York City where he had a role in a broadway play.  He chose radio sports for his career and they lived in Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico before coming to Ashland, Oregon in 1956.  In July, 1957 they moved to Albany to buy radio station KWIL.  Larry and Lindy became Christians in 1958 and by 1960 KWIL became a Christian station.  Larry was the General Manager and the voice of the Bulldogs.  He was a charter member of North Albany Community Church where he remained very active until his death.  He received many awards and honors including the Albany Distinguished Service Award in 1987 and he was inducted into the West Albany Hall of Fame in 2007.  Larry loved high school sports--"it keeps me young".  Athletes from his past frequently stopped to say hi and he remembered every one of them.  He earned the respect of coaches, players and fans with his knowledgeable, even-handed broadcasts.  "No matter which team I am covering, I try to never let it show.  A good play is a good play."  Larry was a frequent speaker at clubs and churches throughout the mid-valley and was active in numerous civic groups and projects.On July 1, 1987 he "retired" at the age of 71, but continued broadcasting sports until February, 1990, completing 50 years in the profession.  Larry loved roses and playing golf.   He was preceeded in death by his brother Jonathan Combs and wife of 48 years, Lindy.  Family includes daughter Greta Hess of Albany; daughter Laurie Ellinger of Fremont, Calif.; granddaughters Jennifer and Bethany Ellinger of San Jose, Calif.; son Lance Gordon of Southern California; grandson Christopher of Hillsboro; grandson Kevin and great granddaughter Merisa of Southern California; nephew David Combs of Indianapolis, IN.  His second wife, Sandra, lives in Albany. A celebration of life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at North Albany Community Church.  Memorial contributions may be made to KWIL for Christ or North Albany Community Church in care of the funeral home.  AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling the arrangements ( www.aasum-dufour.com ).