“Lawrence” To Her; “The Legend” To Many

By Bertie Brouhard

“Her” is his wife of 60-plus years; his rock, his foundation, his compass, his true love who always addressed or referred to him as “Lawrence.” To most he was Larry Burdick. But to the many who knew and appreciated his special gift; especially those in his vast bicycling community which included The Davis Bike Club” he was “The Legend.”

Born and raised in Haileyville , Oklahoma, where he played high school football after graduation he  joined the Army. Stationed outside Davis at what was later DQ University he met Delores “Dee” from Knights Landing. They raised two sons on L Street and Dee retired from jobs in food service and Larry from a long career in the Nutrition Dept. at UCD. 

Our college town with its rapidly expanding university is crammed full of residents who are well read, published, educated, traveled, heeled and thought of. However, it lays claim to only a few true “Legends.” Newsworthy, famous maybe, but not “Legendary.”

With help from AI and wikiHow I gained some insight into its attainment. #1 Stop worrying about what others think. He was certainly confident, cool with a certain “Your opinion of me doesn’t matter” attitude. #2 Emulate others. He had role models (RAAM, Tour De France riders, Susan Munn, Doc Wright, Lon Haldeman.). #3 Develop a positive outlook. He never had a ride too far, too hot, cold, wet or dark … or a hill, or mountain too high. Always had a “can do” attitude. All good advice but what really elevated his status, his prominence, the love he engendered in others was his giving – which he did freely and often. He lived for others and their success. His calling; his niche, his modus operandi, his hook if you will, was road bicycling. “The Legend” touched the hearts and minds of many. I am certainly one. 

Only a true “Legend” works in “the shed” for before the event, paints large, pink direction, route arrows the day before the Davis Double and then the day of the ride at its close, about midnight maybe, drives a garbage truck the entire route to collect rest stop refuse. 

I asked many of their admirers to share a memory. Of the dozens of tributes I received here are the Top Fifteen. THANK YOU! … to everyone who sent me a remembrance or two.

From Pierre: “When I joined DBC I knew how to ride a bike; but that was all. I met Dan and he told me if I really wanted to learn how to ride in a group I needed to ride with Larry Burdick. Larry sent other riders ahead and he stayed with me telling me exactly where he wanted me to keep my front wheel and off we went. I had never ridden that close to another rider and I was very nervous. As we rode on Larry said, “See how easy it is to stay on my wheel.” I heard people say “Larry won’t wait for anyone.” But I know he was always ready to help. Often I would be asking myself why I let Larry talk me into doing really long, hard rides. He wanted us all to succeed.”

From Cathy: “I remember hearing Larry on his bike on his porch at 6 in the morning in the summer when we both had our windows open. He would listen to 60’s music and was out there like clockwork! Larry was our son Eli’s idol when he was two or three. He only wanted to wear blue shorts for about three months because Larry wore blue shorts”.

From Diane: “I met Larry Larry Burdick in the Dept of Nutrition at UCD in 1978. Over the 40-some years I knew Larry and Dee they were both amazing in their dedication to each other. When Larry would have a bike accident Dee would take care of him with never a hard word l(like “Why did you ride over that cattle guard??”) When Dee got older and needed help he was always there for her to the end. They were obviously joined at the soul.”

From Jeff: “I remember when we biked an event called The Great California Landrush. We would bike SF to LA in two days … a double century on Saturday and another one on Sunday. Larry was such a great guy. He could lift our spirits up when low. Nancy and I really loved him as many of you have. 

From Jim: “On the eve of my first multi-day bike ride with Larry he called to insure I was bringing enough toothpaste for two. On our ride across Nevada on Hwy 50 every morning started with a climb. It was usually a degree or two above or below freezing and Larry encouraged starting with light clothing. At the top he raided the garbage cans for paper which we stuffed down our front to cope with the long cold descents. Wouldn’t have survived that ride without his help and encouragement . RIP”

From Barry: “Larry was one of the first DBC members that welcomed me into the club. He said you won’t meet a better group of folks. He was right. They were the backbone of the club in all its events. He was one of the founders of March Madness. He founded the Over 65 Time Trial Team in 2010 that set an unofficial world record for the 20 mil course.”

From Marcia: I’m forever grateful to Larry in so many ways. As I started cycling long distances he was there to pick you up if you failed or feed you pancakes or let you sleep on the foam in the backyard but he always knew when it was time to get you moving again. There was always the TWO MINUTE warning and then you’d better get up and go.

From Paul G: “I recall Larry and Dee having a spirited discussion about adding salt to potato chips for riders on a brevet. They made quite a pair, and eagerly volunteered to help cyclists.”

From Anne: “… he chose to celebrate his 70th birthday, he biked the Davis Double Century and soon after hiked to the top of Half Dome. In a different year he was doing The Davis Double and fell off his bike near the beginning of the ride, but continued on. I was working at the Guinda Rest Stop about 40 miles from the finish … saw Larry there … some blood and maybe back pain but that did not finish him.”

From Phil: “ … took good-natured kidding about being an “Okie.” But caution to anybody who dares dismiss Larry as a “good old boy” even though he played the role willingly. Hidden behind that “Oh shucks” exterior was a man of remarkable intelligence, devastating wit and profound observation. Example: We were a group of riders on the long return loop from Vacaville. Isolated rural area; homes and ranches would never be shown on the cover of Architectural Digest. Passing one such ranch there were cars and trucks scattered round in various states of decay. Larry’s observation, still remembered over 25 years later; “You got to admire a guy who still has every car he’s ever owned.”

From Paul T: “I remember returning from a morning ride with Larry arriving in Davis just before noon, and he mentioned that he was going to have lunch at the Senior Center as he often did. I asked “Do you go dressed like that?” to which he replied,”You do know there are people there with heart conditions, don’t you?”

From Darrell:” … but Larry immediately stood out. Our large group agreed to stop for a nature break at a very small restroom on the ART. And it was Larry who taught me just how inefficient it was to use a bathroom stall alone. The lesson bestowed upon me was as personal and practical as you are imagining it. It was my introduction to The Legend. There has been no one else like him.”

From Russell: “One of my favorite Larry stories, he told me was about the time “he blew by Dave Scott’ going up one of the hills by Berryessa. Larry was in his 50s and Dave (of Hawaiian Iron Man fame) was in his prime! Can you believe that!!! Larry then goes on to say “the dang fool had a flat and didn’t have a spare … so Larry explains “He had to go back and give him a tube.” He goes on to say not much more than 15 minutes later 

Dave is flying past him. Larry completes the story by lamenting “That guy still owes me a tube.” 

From Greg: “ For some reason I mentioned that my birthday is April 30. Larry responded by saying “That used to be my birthday.’ We could not figure out where he was going with that info. He finally said that in his early years his family always told him that his birthday was April 30. When he joined the military he had to retrieve his birth certificate from the family’s bank safe deposit box which is when he learned that his birthday is actually April 29..”

From Barbara: “I’m thinking that if there was a crowd at the Pearly Gates, Larry would let Peter know he had “Two Minutes.” Larry and Dee were a joy to know. Grateful for the privilege. Great times.”

And to you who didn’t get to make their acquaintance you may have seen this senior couple holding hands on their daily stroll somewhere in town … “Out For A Walk.”

— Long a Davis resident and retired from a successful HVAC sales career, I enjoy travel, reading and now finding my writing voice. I value your input so please email me (bertieb1970@gmail.com). Thank you. Bertie.