Home > United States of America > South Dakota > Lake County > Madison > Graceland Cemetery > Roger Gaylon Larson

Roger Gaylon Larson

Birth	:	29 Dec 1940 Canton, Lincoln County, South Dakota, USA
Death	:	7 Jul 1979 Knoxville, Marion County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Graceland Cemetery, Madison, Lake County, USA
Coordinate	:	44.0127983, -97.0903015
Plot	:	Block 46- Lot 8- Grave 4
Description	:	Roger was killed along with Darryl Dawley in a violent crash at Knoxville, Iowa, at the start of the feature race. There had been two unsuccessful starts prior to this as the cars were not lined up correctly. ROGER LARSON Roger Larson started his driving career at Husets in the early sixties aboard a 1956 Ford tudor sedan "hobby" stocker. He later carved the fenders off the baby blue #104 stock car to compete with the open wheeled modifieds. He secured a ride in a modified and made his debut at Interlakes (now Lake County) Speedway where, in his... Read More	Roger was killed along with Darryl Dawley in a violent crash at Knoxville, Iowa, at the start of the feature race. There had been two unsuccessful starts prior to this as the cars were not lined up correctly. ROGER LARSON Roger Larson started his driving career at Husets in the early sixties aboard a 1956 Ford tudor sedan "hobby" stocker. He later carved the fenders off the baby blue #104 stock car to compete with the open wheeled modifieds. He secured a ride in a modified and made his debut at Interlakes (now Lake County) Speedway where, in his own words years later, "I passed a bunch of cars in the first turn on the first lap and I was going to show them how good a driver I was. I forgot about the open pit gate on the backstretch and I hit it a ton and flipped and flipped and completely destroyed my first good ride in a half lap". But he got more good rides and starting finishing in the top of the order running against Hall of Famers Jim Matthews, Bill Mellenberndt, Earl Thomas and Harry Torgerson. In 1970 he teamed with Jack Mader and the blue #99 supermodified was the class of the field. Roger won the 1970 supermodified title in the car and also made his first sprint car appearance at Knoxville late that season. In his own words again on his initial Knoxville race he said "actually I was scared to death thinking of running at Knoxville, I was sure I would be last and the end of the first lap". Roger finished in sixth position in his first Knoxville feature. He moved to Solomon, Kansas to start a business and be closer to the mainstream of sprint car racing. He ran the old IMCA circuit, the fair dates, open shows and made it back to Knoxville every Saturday night. Hearing of the tough Pennsylvania circuit and three and four nights of racing, Roger moved to Emigh, Pennsylvania and competed at Williams Grove, Selingsgrove, Port Royal and Reading against the likes Jan Opperman, Kenny Weld and Steve Smith. When Opperman vacated the famous Bogar #99, Larson ran the car for a spell until a USAC Reading flip earned him the pink slip. In 1976 Roger drove a new Trostle for Dale Hanisch and won the sprint car championships at Jackson, Minnesota and the old Hartford, half mile, Speedway as well as features at Fairmont, Rapid City and Knoxville. Roger assembled a new team for the 1979 season and competed with the World of Outlaws, the National Speedway Contest Association and ran both Knoxville and Hartford. In July of that fateful season, Roger lost his life in a crash at Knoxville that also claimed Daryl Dawley. Roger Larson was inducted into the Knoxville Raceway (1980), Huset's Speedway (2002), and the Jackson Speedway Hall Of Fame (2018).

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Roger Gaylon Larson's memorial?
Roger Gaylon Larson's memorial is located at: Graceland Cemetery, Madison, Lake County, USA.
When did Roger Gaylon Larson death?
Roger Gaylon Larson death on 7 Jul 1979 in Knoxville, Marion County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Roger Gaylon Larson's memorial?
Latitude: 44.0127983
Longitude: -97.0903015

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Cherrie Kaye Beck Schnell

(1945 - 2014)

Siblings

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Graceland Cemetery
Madison, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.0127983, -97.0903015

2. Saint Thomas Cemetery
Madison, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9914017, -97.1213989

3. Old Madison Cemetery
Madison, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9786600, -97.0492800

4. Prairie Village Cemetery
Madison, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.0064000, -97.1691000

5. Lake Park Cemetery
Wentworth, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.0363998, -96.9981003

6. Lake Madison Lutheran Cemetery
Rutland, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.0806030, -97.0439740

7. Rose Hill Cemetery
Wentworth, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9919014, -96.9749985

8. Franklin Cemetery
Chester, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.8918991, -97.0282974

9. Olson Cemetery
Junius, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9785720, -97.2683500

10. Saint William Church Cemetery
Ramona, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1228270, -97.2103790

11. Ramona Cemetery
Ramona, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1234740, -97.2103790

12. Saint Ann's Cemetery
Ramona, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1483002, -97.1418991

13. Prospect Cemetery
Chester, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.8997002, -96.9689026

14. Prairie Queen Cemetery
Nunda, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1411018, -96.9899979

15. Ash Grove Cemetery
Nunda, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1674995, -97.1136017

16. Saint Peter Lutheran Cemetery
Orland, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.8611200, -97.1694800

17. Gracevale Colony Cemetery
Winfred, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9260500, -97.2814600

18. Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Chester, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.8913994, -96.9332962

19. Saint Johns Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
Ramona, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.0950012, -97.2977982

20. Molskness Cemetery
Colman, Moody County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9785995, -96.8463974

21. Mount Auburn Cemetery
Colman, Moody County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1108017, -96.8683014

22. Hegre Cemetery
Colman, Moody County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9514008, -96.8380966

23. Ramsey Pioneer Cemetery
McCook County, USA
Coordinate: 43.8428001, -97.2166977

24. Colman Cemetery
Colman, Moody County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9789009, -96.8264008