Hometown – North Little Rock, Ark.
Education – University of Arkansas
Family – Wife, Miriam (57 years); Son, Jason, 50; Granddaughter, Allison, 27
Place of residence: Germantown, TN
Church: Bartlett Hills Baptist, 2009-present (deacon, Sunday school teacher, sings in choir, Men’s Ministry) Wife Miriam plays piano.
Career in journalism:
1961-67: Arkansas Democrat, Little Rock, Assistant Sports Editor
1967-2001: The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Prep Editor (1967-88); Outdoors Editor, 1988-2001.
2002-04 – Outdoor columnist for DeSoto Times and Fayette Review.
2018-21: Editor of Mid-South Hunting & Fishing News.
Radio:
August 2001-present – Host of award-winning Outdoors with Larry Rea on Audacy family of stations in Memphis (AM-790) and Brownsville (1520-AM/95.3-FM) and Jackson, (News/Talk 101.5-FM); 90-minute show on Saturday mornings.
Organizations: Tennessee Outdoor Writers Association (past president); Southeastern Outdoor Press Association (past board of directors); Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation. Former board member of Fellowship of Christian Association (FCA).
Larry Rea major awards:1975: Co-Founder of The Commercial Appeal’s Best of the Preps.
1990 – Tennessee first Prep Writer of the Year by Lawrence Quarterback Club
1995 – Tennessee Sportswriters Association, Outdoor Writer of the Year
1997 – Tennessee Wildlife Resources Association, Outstanding efforts in communicating an appreciation of the outdoors to Tennessee Youth
2003/04/09/10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21, 22) – Tennessee Outdoor Writers Association, 1st Outdoor Radio Broadcast
2004 – SEOPA, Best Outdoor Radio Program
2009 – Inducted into Tennessee Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame
2017 – Legends of The Outdoors 1st Wade Bourne Outdoor Communicator of the Year
2022 – Tennessee Wildlife Federation Communicator of the Year
2022 – Inducted into Garry Mason’s Legends of Outdoors Hall of Fame in ceremonies at Bass Pro Shops Convention Center in Springfield, Mo.