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Created page with "{{Infobox person | name=Larry V. Birleffi | image=Larry Birleffi of WY.jpg | birth_date=April 17, 1918 | birth_place=Hartville, Platte County,<br> [[Wyoming] | death_date=Sept..."
{{Infobox person
| name=Larry V. Birleffi
| image=Larry Birleffi of WY.jpg
| birth_date=April 17, 1918
| birth_place=Hartville, Platte County,<br> [[Wyoming]
| death_date=September 27, 2008 (aged 90)
| death_place=[[Cheyenne]], Laramie County, Wyom<br>
'''Resting place''':<br>
Lakeview Cemetery in Cheyenne
|alma_mater = [[University of Wyoming]]
|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]
|occupation=Broadcaster and [[journalist]]
|spouse=Lois Sturtevant Birleffi,<br/> married 1942–2004 (her death)
|children=Lynn Birleffi<br/>Bobbie Birleffi<br/>Laurie Rosen
|branch=[[United States Army]]<br>
92nd Infantry<br>
|battles=[[Italy]]
|rank=[[Major]]
|awards=[[Bronze Star]]
|serviceyears=1942-1946
}}|footnotes='''Notes:'''<br>
(1) Birleffi's [[newspaper]] and broadcasting activities spanned much of the 20th century, as he became known as the original "Voice of the University of Wyoming Cowboy."
(2) Birleffi won a [[Bronze Star]] in Italy during [[World War II]] before he began his [[journalism]] career with ''The Laramie Daily Boomerang.''
(3) Birleffi appeared on [[radio]] and thereafter in local, regional, and national [[television]] [[sports]] broadcasts.
'''Lawrence V. Birleffi''', known as '''Larry Firleffi''' (April 17, 1918 – September 27, 2008),<ref>Victor A. Birleffi (1888-1970) - Find a Grave Memorial, accessed July 3, 2023.</ref> was a [[Wyoming]] broadcaster known as the original "Voice of the University of [[Wyoming]] Cowboys,'' having announced all UW [[football]] and [[basketball]] games from 1947 to 1986.<ref name=UW>University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame website:http://wyomingathletics.cstv.com/trads/hof-1996.html</ref> He helped to build the UW sports program in Laramie and was a vigorous promoter of its athletic teams.
==Background==
Birleffi was one of four children born to Victor Birleffi (1888–1970), a [[miner]], and Louise Birleffi (1895–1986) in tiny Hartville in Platte County in southeastern Wyoming and lived in the state for his entire life except for four years in the military. During Birleffi's youth, Hartville had a population of two thousand, compared to sixty-two in the 2020 census. Birleffi was of [[Itay|Italian]] ethnicity and [[Roman Catholic]] in a predominantly [[Protestant]] state.<ref name=stories>Larry Birleffi stories:http://wyospcr.state.wy.us/Stories/Birleffi.asp</ref> He graduated from Sunrise High School, now Guernsey-Sunrise High School in Guernsey, Wyoming, where he was [[quarterback]] of the football team. In 1942, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in [[English language]] from the University of Wyoming. He was a [[major]] in the [[United States Army]] [[92nd Infantry Division]], having served in [[Italy]] and earned the [[Bronze Star]].<ref name=obit>http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2008/09/28/obituaries/01obit_09-28-08.txt</ref>
==Sports career==
Birleffi's career spanned the [[history]] of broadcasting. While in college, he was a sportswriter for ''The Laramie Daily Boomerang" newspaper in Laramie in Albany County,, Wyoming. He thereafter moved into [[radio]] and [[television]]. An icon of Wyoming sports, he was renowned for his booming, enthusiastic voice. He also co-owned a radio station and appeared on regional and national television. He had a regular sports column in ''The Wyoming Tribune Eagle,'' published in the capital city of [[Cheyenne]]. He was the announcer for UW football and basketball for some thirty-seven years.<ref name=uwyo>http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/a&s/Development/People/Birleffi-Larry-01.html</ref> Birleffi's love of athletics was shown in his writing; according to his obituary, he demonstrated a belief in the importance of teamwork, commitment, discipline, and spirit as essential to all sports.<ref name=obit/>
He hosted regular television sports programs and created a radio [[talk show]] called ''Cheyenne Today''.<ref name=obit/> He was the station manager and eventually a part-owner of KFBC Radio in Cheyenne. He received assignments, such as the National Finals Rodeo in [[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], from the former [[ABC]]'s "Wide World of Sports,''<ref name=uwyo/> created and originally produced by another Wyoming native, Curt Gowdy (1919-2006), a personal friend of Birleffi's.<ref name=stories/>
Birleffi was "Wyoming Broadcaster of the Year" in 1954. In 1992, the press booth at UW's War Memorial Stadium was named in his honor.<ref name=UW/> In 1996, he was inducted into the University of Wyoming Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2001, he was named "Outstanding Alumni" for the UW College of Arts and Sciences. At the time, [[Governor]] [[Jim Geringer]] described Birleffi as "indeed a gentleman cowboy and a scholar. His service to community, country, and nation brings honor and credit to Wyoming, our university, and to the College of Arts and Sciences.”<ref name=uwyo/> In 2003, he was inducted to the Wyoming Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, having also been a former president of the organization. He was a member of Rotary International and a founding member and past president of the Cheyenne Quarterback Club. He was active in the UW Cowboy Joe Club, the Wyoming Heritage Foundation, the [[American Heart Association]], and the [[American Cancer Society]].<ref name=uwyo/>
==Family and death==
In 1942, Birleffi wed the former Lois A. Sturtevant of Laramie; they remained married until her death in 2004. The couple had three daughters: Lynn Birleffi (husband Phil Noble) of Cheyenne, Bobbie Birleffi of [[New York City]], and Laurie Rosen (husband Steve Rosen) of Chevy Chase, [[Maryland]]; and two grandchildren.
Birleffi died at the age of ninety at Davis Hospice in Cheyenne. He was survived by his daughters and grandchildren, and by a sister, Evelyn B. Johnston, of [[Billings]], Montana]]. He was preceded in death by his wife Lois, and by two brothers: Arthur Birleffi<ref name=obit/> and John A. Birleffi (1929–1999) of[Greeley, [[Colorado]].<ref name=ssdi/> Services were held on September 30 at St. Mary's Cathedral, 2102 Warren Avenue, in Cheyenne.<ref>Website of St. Mary's Cathedral, Cheyenne, Wyoming:http://www.stmarycathedral.com/</ref> News of Birleffi's death was carried by the [[Associated Press]] and many newspapers throughout the American West.
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Birleffi, Larry}}
[[Category:Wyoming]]
[[Category:Journalists]]
[[Category:Radio]]
[[Category:Newspapers]]
[[Category:Television]]
[[Category:Catholics]]
| name=Larry V. Birleffi
| image=Larry Birleffi of WY.jpg
| birth_date=April 17, 1918
| birth_place=Hartville, Platte County,<br> [[Wyoming]
| death_date=September 27, 2008 (aged 90)
| death_place=[[Cheyenne]], Laramie County, Wyom<br>
'''Resting place''':<br>
Lakeview Cemetery in Cheyenne
|alma_mater = [[University of Wyoming]]
|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]
|occupation=Broadcaster and [[journalist]]
|spouse=Lois Sturtevant Birleffi,<br/> married 1942–2004 (her death)
|children=Lynn Birleffi<br/>Bobbie Birleffi<br/>Laurie Rosen
|branch=[[United States Army]]<br>
92nd Infantry<br>
|battles=[[Italy]]
|rank=[[Major]]
|awards=[[Bronze Star]]
|serviceyears=1942-1946
}}|footnotes='''Notes:'''<br>
(1) Birleffi's [[newspaper]] and broadcasting activities spanned much of the 20th century, as he became known as the original "Voice of the University of Wyoming Cowboy."
(2) Birleffi won a [[Bronze Star]] in Italy during [[World War II]] before he began his [[journalism]] career with ''The Laramie Daily Boomerang.''
(3) Birleffi appeared on [[radio]] and thereafter in local, regional, and national [[television]] [[sports]] broadcasts.
'''Lawrence V. Birleffi''', known as '''Larry Firleffi''' (April 17, 1918 – September 27, 2008),<ref>Victor A. Birleffi (1888-1970) - Find a Grave Memorial, accessed July 3, 2023.</ref> was a [[Wyoming]] broadcaster known as the original "Voice of the University of [[Wyoming]] Cowboys,'' having announced all UW [[football]] and [[basketball]] games from 1947 to 1986.<ref name=UW>University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame website:http://wyomingathletics.cstv.com/trads/hof-1996.html</ref> He helped to build the UW sports program in Laramie and was a vigorous promoter of its athletic teams.
==Background==
Birleffi was one of four children born to Victor Birleffi (1888–1970), a [[miner]], and Louise Birleffi (1895–1986) in tiny Hartville in Platte County in southeastern Wyoming and lived in the state for his entire life except for four years in the military. During Birleffi's youth, Hartville had a population of two thousand, compared to sixty-two in the 2020 census. Birleffi was of [[Itay|Italian]] ethnicity and [[Roman Catholic]] in a predominantly [[Protestant]] state.<ref name=stories>Larry Birleffi stories:http://wyospcr.state.wy.us/Stories/Birleffi.asp</ref> He graduated from Sunrise High School, now Guernsey-Sunrise High School in Guernsey, Wyoming, where he was [[quarterback]] of the football team. In 1942, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in [[English language]] from the University of Wyoming. He was a [[major]] in the [[United States Army]] [[92nd Infantry Division]], having served in [[Italy]] and earned the [[Bronze Star]].<ref name=obit>http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2008/09/28/obituaries/01obit_09-28-08.txt</ref>
==Sports career==
Birleffi's career spanned the [[history]] of broadcasting. While in college, he was a sportswriter for ''The Laramie Daily Boomerang" newspaper in Laramie in Albany County,, Wyoming. He thereafter moved into [[radio]] and [[television]]. An icon of Wyoming sports, he was renowned for his booming, enthusiastic voice. He also co-owned a radio station and appeared on regional and national television. He had a regular sports column in ''The Wyoming Tribune Eagle,'' published in the capital city of [[Cheyenne]]. He was the announcer for UW football and basketball for some thirty-seven years.<ref name=uwyo>http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/a&s/Development/People/Birleffi-Larry-01.html</ref> Birleffi's love of athletics was shown in his writing; according to his obituary, he demonstrated a belief in the importance of teamwork, commitment, discipline, and spirit as essential to all sports.<ref name=obit/>
He hosted regular television sports programs and created a radio [[talk show]] called ''Cheyenne Today''.<ref name=obit/> He was the station manager and eventually a part-owner of KFBC Radio in Cheyenne. He received assignments, such as the National Finals Rodeo in [[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], from the former [[ABC]]'s "Wide World of Sports,''<ref name=uwyo/> created and originally produced by another Wyoming native, Curt Gowdy (1919-2006), a personal friend of Birleffi's.<ref name=stories/>
Birleffi was "Wyoming Broadcaster of the Year" in 1954. In 1992, the press booth at UW's War Memorial Stadium was named in his honor.<ref name=UW/> In 1996, he was inducted into the University of Wyoming Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2001, he was named "Outstanding Alumni" for the UW College of Arts and Sciences. At the time, [[Governor]] [[Jim Geringer]] described Birleffi as "indeed a gentleman cowboy and a scholar. His service to community, country, and nation brings honor and credit to Wyoming, our university, and to the College of Arts and Sciences.”<ref name=uwyo/> In 2003, he was inducted to the Wyoming Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, having also been a former president of the organization. He was a member of Rotary International and a founding member and past president of the Cheyenne Quarterback Club. He was active in the UW Cowboy Joe Club, the Wyoming Heritage Foundation, the [[American Heart Association]], and the [[American Cancer Society]].<ref name=uwyo/>
==Family and death==
In 1942, Birleffi wed the former Lois A. Sturtevant of Laramie; they remained married until her death in 2004. The couple had three daughters: Lynn Birleffi (husband Phil Noble) of Cheyenne, Bobbie Birleffi of [[New York City]], and Laurie Rosen (husband Steve Rosen) of Chevy Chase, [[Maryland]]; and two grandchildren.
Birleffi died at the age of ninety at Davis Hospice in Cheyenne. He was survived by his daughters and grandchildren, and by a sister, Evelyn B. Johnston, of [[Billings]], Montana]]. He was preceded in death by his wife Lois, and by two brothers: Arthur Birleffi<ref name=obit/> and John A. Birleffi (1929–1999) of[Greeley, [[Colorado]].<ref name=ssdi/> Services were held on September 30 at St. Mary's Cathedral, 2102 Warren Avenue, in Cheyenne.<ref>Website of St. Mary's Cathedral, Cheyenne, Wyoming:http://www.stmarycathedral.com/</ref> News of Birleffi's death was carried by the [[Associated Press]] and many newspapers throughout the American West.
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Birleffi, Larry}}
[[Category:Wyoming]]
[[Category:Journalists]]
[[Category:Radio]]
[[Category:Newspapers]]
[[Category:Television]]
[[Category:Catholics]]