Brigham Young University offered a football scholarship to Larry Hamilton in 1980. Hamilton had been a two-way lineman for the Hueneme High football program and started in the California State Shrine All-Star game. Brigham Young University offered a wrestling scholarship to Hamilton as well. And why not? Hamilton had placed in the top five at the CIF state championships in different weight divisions as a junior and senior. The two-time Channel League champion won a section title in 1980.
What to do? Larry arrived at the Provo, Utah, campus in 1980 to play football and wrestle, excelling in both as a rare two-sport standout in college.
Larry was a starting defensive lineman on BYU’s 1984 national championship football team. Upon graduation, he was drafted by the Denver Gold of the United States Football League.
His achievements as a wrestler were extensive. His went on to win three Western Athletic Conference titles (1981-83), NCAA Western Region titles in 1982 and 1983 as well as regional runner-up in 1981. A preseason All-American in 1984, Larry missed his senior season in 1984 because of a knee injury.
Outside his collegiate career, Larry had a memorable AAU wrestling campaign in 1981, highlighted by a second-place finish in the World Junior Championships. Other achievements on AAU mats that year included runner-up finishes at the Junior National Freestyle and National Greco Roman championship meets.
Had Larry not decided to accept major college athletic scholarship offers in football or wrestling, he could have made it as a track and field athlete. He was a Channel League shot put champion and placed fifth at the 1980 CIF-Southern Section Masters Meet.
For the past 25 years, Larry has helped with the worldwide implementation of Lean Six Sigma, a synergized management concept, and has taught many undergraduate and graduate level classes on this business strategy.
Currently a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah, Larry and his wife Tamara are the parents of Jared, Ashley, Justin and Jordan.