LARRY HINTON Lansing, MIAt age 14, Larry began pitching horseshoes in Lansing area parks and schoolyards. Stakes were pounded in the ground, and score was kept with a ringer counting as five points, a leaner valued at three points and a close shoe being worth a point. After his teenage years he lost touch with the game until some twenty-years later in 1978. There was a 'Friend's of the Fifties' sports festival being held in Lansing and horseshoes was one of the games offered. Larry competed and won the tournament held at Moore's Park. Oscar Hope was present and he sparked Larry's interest to become part of organized horseshoes by joining the Capitol City Horseshoe Club. Shortly after that encounter with Oscar, Larry moved to a new neighborhood and one night he heard the distinct metallic sound of horseshoes striking a stake. Following the sound emanating from down the street Larry found himself in the backyard of the ever jovial former Seniors State Champion Wilfred "Willie" Horton. Thinking he was rather good Larry challenged him to a game. The next night Larry began to build a court in his backyard, switched from a flip to the same 3/4 turn used by Willie and vowed with every shoe pitched to never take another trouncing like that ever again. With the many practice sessions that followed between the two, Willie passed his precious gift of what it means to be a horseshoe pitcher to Larry and gave him a solid foundation to build upon. Driven by an unsurpassed competitive nature to be the best pitcher he could possibly become Larry involved himself with the finer points of pitching. He switched from the 3/4 turn to the 1 1/4 turn after noticing that many of Michigan's better pitchers threw that turn and eventually settled with Allen's as his shoe of choice. Throughout his career Larry has been a Class A and B pitcher. He has won many tournament championships over the years and has frnished as high as fifth in Class A in state championship competition. In 1985, the Class B-2 championship came down to the last game between Larry and Dewey Howard. Upon winning the pressure-packed game, thus his first and, to this point in time, only state championship, Larry was exuberant. He immediately dashed toward the fence, leaped it with one quick bound, and rushed into the bleachers giving high-fives to those who witnessed his championship. Larry has won numerous Capitol City/Greater Lansing Area league and club championships. His high game is 92.85%. In 2009, Larry declared for the elders division and has found the transition to be smooth and exciting for him. More than a topflight pitcher, Larry has served as president and publicity director for the Greater Lansing Area Horseshoe Club. He has pitched in many exhibitions held throughout the Lansing area over the years and has sang the National Anthem at many tournaments around the state. When the club was told that they must vacate Moore's Park he and Oscar Hope took on the task of finding a new site. Working with the city's park and recreation department a suitable site was found at Westside Park, and 18 courts were built, complete with full walkways and exceptional lighting. Larry was able to procure from General Motors a guard shack slated for destruction for the club's use for storage and as an office. Thanks to Larry's and Oscar's perseverance Lansing's facilities are among the frnest that can be found anywhere in the country. Larry exemplifies the greatness of the game of horseshoes, on and off the courts. Horseshoes is a game in which a person must prove oneself, and Larry has proven himself with a competitive spirit, a dedication for the betterment of the game and an unconditional friendship for all. In recognition of his outstanding accomplishments the Hall of Fame Committee extends its sincere gratitude and thanks by inducting Lawrence Hinton into the Michigan Horseshoe Pitchers Association's Hall of Fame on this day, Sunday, September 6,2009. |