Larry Buck
Larry Buck
Age 80
Larry was born in Lufkin, Texas on June 13, 1932. His father was born in Crockett, Texas in 1901, ran a dry goods business in Lufkin and Tyler, and died in 1971. His mother was born in Chicago in 1905 and died in 1972. Larry has one sister, Bettiruth Susholtz, who is 2 years older and now lives in Houston. She has 3 children; her husband, Adolph, is deceased.
There were only 16 Jewish families in Lufkin when Larry was growing up there. However, he learned Hebrew and became a Bar Mitzvah at a temple in Tyler when he was 13.
Larry graduated from the Kemper Military School in Booneville, Missouri in 1949. The family moved to Houston in 1950. Larry received a degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas in 1953. During his college years, he worked at a men's store, at the Texas legislature, at the fish and game commission and grading papers. He then served 2 years in the army ordinance corps, finishing as a 1st lieutenant. He served at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, and in Germany as the commanding officer of an ordinance technical intelligence detachment. He got hepatitis and returned to the US in 1955. In 1957 Larry married and had 2 children: Risa, who now lives in Ashland, Oregon, works as a conservationist and has no children; and David, who is a physician living in Houston and has 2 children: Molly and Sam.
After discharge from the army, Larry started a 9-month executive training program with Foley's department stores. After, however, he became an insurance broker, initially with a large agency and later with his own firm. Eventually, he merged with the national firm of Alexander and Alexander and managed the Houston office. After 20 years as an insurance broker, Larry set up a consulting business. His clients are mostly businesses needing assistance with insurance issues. After 37 years of consulting, Larry continues to do this work today.
In 1968, when Risa was 9 and David 7, Larry married Katherine Solomon, a speech therapist from Helena, Arkansas. She has degrees from Vanderbilt and University of Houston. They had a son, Jonathan, who is now a lawyer for a non-profit organization and lives in Austin.
These days Larry does a lot of volunteer work. For 28 years he has been on the Board of 7 Acres Jewish Senior Care Services and was formerly president. He either is or was on the Boards of the Jewish Community Center, the American Jewish Committee, the American Technion Society, the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston. He is also a past president of B'nai B'rith.
One of Larry's favorite activities used to be playing tennis. He still exercises regularly. These days he finds his greatest enjoyment in helping people through his business and volunteer activities, collecting watches and monkey statues, and watching the stock market. He has been living in the Houstonian condominium tower for 10 years and serves on the condo Board.
Larry's health is good despite some heart problems. He participates in the "Century Health Study", which closely monitors his health and provides support for exercise and a healthy diet. He says that he does not feel 80 years old.
Larry attributes his aging with a positive attitude to having learned from his mistakes, having a strong work ethic, and helping people.
