   Larry Gold, one of the greatest athletes in Chadron High School history and one of the first inductees into the Chadron State College Athletic Hall of Fame, has died at age 76 at his home in Council Bluffs, IA. Gold had been in ill-health for some time.
A Chadron native, Gold was an all-state football player and track standout at Chadron High School when he graduated in 1964. He went on to Chadron State and was inducted into the CSC Hall of Fame in 1985.
At Chadron High, Gold rushed for at least 1,900 yards, averaged 5.3 yards a carry, and scored 252 points. He earned Class B 1st-Team All-State honors as both a junior and a senior, and played in the 1964 Nebraska Shrine Bowl.
His track exploits may have been even more impressive. He broke 8 meet records his senior year, including all 3 of his events at the Rangeland Conference Meet and in the discus at the Class B State Meet, where he also placed 3rd in the shot put.
Gold was kicked off the CSC football team in 1966 for smoking, but returned the following season and rushed for 681 yards. He was even better in 1968 as he carried for 1,126 yards to become the school’s first thousand-yard rusher and 10 touchdowns
Gold helped lead the Eagles to an 8-1 record, their first winning season in 9 years, and was recognized with Larry 1st-Team All-District and HM All-American honors as a running back while also subbing in at linebacker.
When he graduated, he held the CSC single-season rushing record and was #2 on the career rushing list. He remained in the top 10 for career rushing for over 40 years and is still in the top 15.
Larry married Susan Lecher, who survives hime, in 1966, and they moved to the Omaha area after his graduation in December 1968 where he became a teacher at Bellevue High School.
He was drafted into the Army the following summer, then returned to the Bellevue Schools and worked as a business teacher and guidance counselor for 34 years until his retirement.
A Memorial Mass will be held Monday in Bellevue. Memorials are suggested to St Mary’s Catholic Church in Bellevue for either the Knights of Columbus or the St Vincent DePaul Society
Local icon and great person. Best wishes to family.