Larry Foster Drake

On March 12, 2024, Larry Foster Drake peacefully entered Heaven and is now fishing on the Big Lake up above.

Larry was born in 1936 to Alton A. and Mary Mozelle Drake in Dallas, Texas. He is preceded in death by his loving parents and survived by his daughter, Anecia Drake Hero, his son-in-law, John Christopher Hero, his only grandchild, Camille Elena Hero, his brother, Dan (and Debra) Drake, his sister Gayla Drake and nieces and nephews Michelle Costa, Jana Hinsen, Jordan Drake, Josh (and Kayla) Drake.

Upon high school graduation in 1955 from Woodrow Wilson High School, Larry attended East Texas State University, earning a Bachelors of Science Degree with a major in Health and Education with a minor in History. He graduated in August 1959.

Throughout his life, Larry enjoyed basketball and bass fishing. In 1959, his first “coaching job” was as the basketball coach and physical education teacher at Kiest Elementary in the Dallas Independent School District which employed him for 15 years.

He married Sandra McNulty in 1960 and even though they divorced in 1972, they remained life-long friends, celebrating holidays together as a family over the years.

His 41- year teaching career continued within the Dallas Independent School District where he coached and taught history at Rusk Junior High, Brown Junior High. From 1967-1969, he served as Head Basketball coach at North Dallas High School.

In 1970, he took a brief sabbatical from the teaching scene to work at the Ford Motor Company in Dallas where he served as a Labor Relations Representative. His father, Alton, worked for the Ford Company at the time and told him about the job, so he interviewed and got it!

Larry was a natural for this job! His mild manner and ability to listen and provide solutions made him a success and he was disappointed when the Ford Company closed, sending him back to academia. As all things happen for a reason, his next position was as the Head Basketball Coach for Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas, where he took the team to the 1974 - 11AAAA district championship and was hailed as one of the best coaches in Texas.

His coaching career continued in the Garland School District from 1977 - 1981. In 1987, he wanted a change and a smaller environment, so he took a position as the JV Basketball coach at Pine Tree High School in Longview, Texas. He loved the smaller, calmer country community and in late 1987, he was offered a position at Broaddus High School in East Texas. This was where Larry finally found “his cup of tea.” A small community near the Angelina National Forest and a lake two miles from town! He was in heaven, earning the respect of the community, engaging in community events and fishing anytime he wanted!

He led the Broaddus basketball team to district championships in 1989, 1990 and 1992. In 1990, he was awarded Coach of the Year for District 22A. He retired from teaching and coaching in May, 2002 and continued to live in the Piney Woods community until 2018, when he sadly left his Broaddus family and moved back to the Dallas area.

As a native Dallasite with an engaging and infinite gift of gab and silly personality, he was known, loved and respected by many. Everywhere he went (yes, even to Northpark Mall or the local Dairy Queen) someone would run up to him and say, “Hey Coach Drake!” It’s unbelievable how many people knew him in such a big city!

During the summer months, when most teachers were lounging, he took on painting jobs. As a self-taught painter, he learned the fine art of painting interior and exterior residential and commercial properties. In the early days, he and a buddy painted those two tall silos that used to be in Downtown Dallas!

Throughout his life, he enjoyed listening to The Blues, Stevie Ray Vaughan, guitarist Mickey Raphael, The Doobie Brothers and more! He enjoyed old classic movies, hiking trips in the mountains of Colorado, enjoying the nature and beauty of various National Parks, camping, fishing and laughing. He will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.

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