Roland “Duke” LaRue
9/29/2005
Roland “Duke” LaRue, 77, Lincoln Neb., died Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005, after a brief struggle from rare bone cancer. He was born Nov. 27, 1927, in Adair County, Iowa. He was raised on a farm home at Menlo, Iowa.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; two daughters, Cheryl (Jay) Byler, and Daveen (Ken) Renner, one Son, Lance (Brenda) LaRue; four grandchildren, Alex Renner, Kara Renner, Ryan Byler, Riley LaRue, all of Lincoln, Neb.; one sister Mary Louise Funk; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one granddaughter Elise LaRue Byler; one brother and sister-in-law, Lawrence and Orlea Bateham; and brother-in-law, Claude Funk.
He attended a country school through eighth grade and graduated from Menio High School in 1946. He graduated from Buena Vista University in 1950 with a B.S. Degree in Education. He served his military duty with the U.S. Army from 1950-52. He was a teacher and coach for Schleswig Community School, Schleswig, Iowa, from 1952-57. In 1956 he received his Master’s Degree from the University of Wyoming. From 1959-63. He was an Assistant Athletic Trainer for Michigan State University. He received his Physical Therapy Degree in 1964 from the University of Iowa. He was a Physical Therapist and Assistant Athletic Trainer for Purdue University in 1965. He was the Head Physical Therapist at the University Health Center, Head Athletic Trainer, and Director of Athletic Training Curriculum at Western Illinois University from 1965-78. He served his profession in 1972 at the Winter Olympics at Sapporo, Japan and in 1980 at the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, N.Y. From 1978-98, he was the Director of the Athletic Training Curriculum, Head Physical Therapist at the University Health Center, and Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Athletic Department at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. During his 41 year career, he held offices in the National Athletic Trainers Association and was on the Board of Directors. He served on the Nebraska Board of Examiners for Athletic Training from 1989-99. He was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1990, District #5 Hall of Fame in 1995, and Western Illinois University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.
He was a member of Eastridge Presbyterian Church, The American Legion, and numerous professional organizations.
Memorial services were held Sept. 12, 2005, in Lincoln Neb.