Frank "Butch" Larson

Butch Larson played basketball and was captain of the track and football teams at Denfeld, but his greatest achievements would come after his graduation in 1930.

He went on to play football at the University of Minnesota, where he was on the All-Big Ten team in 1933 and 1934 as an end, helping lead the Gophers to back-to-back undefeated seasons and a National Championship in 1934. Larson was selected to have his picture on a Wheaties cereal box and played in the 1935 East-West Shrine game, rooming with future president Gerald Ford, who played for Michigan.

Larson returned to Duluth after recieving his BBA and MA. He coached at Duluth Central from 1936 to 1941 before entering the Army Air Force, where he recieved nine battle stars during the time he served from 1942 to 1945.

He coached Duluth Junior College to the National Junior Rose Bowl game in 1948, and later became coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. His 1950 team went 14-2 before losing the Grey Cup game 12-0 to the Toronto Argonauts.

Larson accepted a teaching and coaching position at International Falls High School in 1952. In his second year the team won its final six games in a row and the Iron Range Conference title. The 1954 team went undefeated and was unofficial state champion.

The Broncos winning streak would continue into the 1956 season, totaling 24 games. The team won four IRC titles in four consecutive years, 1953-'63 and added four more -- 1958, '63, '67 and '69. Larson retired after the 1973 season.

He was inducted into the Minnesota High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 1977 and the Duluth Sports Hall of Fame in 1982.

After battling cancer, he passed away in 1983.

He was inducted into the University of Minnesota Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.

Hall of Fame Members