Southwestern Company Alumni Blog
The Southwestern family is saddened by the loss of former bookfield great, District Sales Manager, and Director of Sales Larry Beckham, taken by cancer this past Friday morning in Houston, TX. He is survived by his wife, Shelly, and children Abigail Renee of Houston; Lesli Beckham Douglass of Knoxville, TN; William Zachary Beckham of Denver, CO; and Amber Terry Beckham and Briana Beckham Pitt, both of Nashville.
Larry was a phenomenal bookman. One week on the bookfield, he made 180 demonstrations and sold 126 customers. A great recruiter, and with the mentorship of Dr. Jim Samuel and others, he grew a great sales organization. He eventually became Director of Sales and head of the Home Learning Division. His gift with the spoken word was extraordinary, and thousands of students enjoyed and were inspired by the stories he shared in Sales School. He shaped countless lives.
Our hearts go out to his family.
There is a Nashville memorial service set for Friday, Dec. 18 at Belmont Church, with receiving of friends from 10-12:30 and a service at 1:00. Larry’s family ”would love to see a big turnout from all the SW people who knew and loved him”. The Belmont Church is located at 68 Music Square East Nashville TN. (615-256-2123)
We also invite you to share your memories of Larry below.
I was Larry Beckham’s student manager. We were both students at Harding College, now Harding University. Larry was one of the most diligent students I every worked with. He sold his first summer in Alabama and won the hearts of all his customers. Larry stayed at Southwestern after I left and achieved all sorts of business success.
I talked with Larry a few times in Houston and he seemed to be doing very well. The Lord created in Larry a most unique person who was held in high esteem by all that were privileged to know him.
Larry Smith
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Larry took me under his wing when I was a beginning DSM and allowed me to follow him at Harding College and the University of Arkansas. He had developed a tremendous group at UA and we modeled our organization at UF and the Texas and Oklahoma schools after some of what I observed Larry and his team doing on that trip.
In recent years, Larry and I have seen each other at trade shows. Larry had an exceptional reputation in the Legal Support industry as a trainer and recruiter. I also met his son at one of the shows. Larry was very proud of all of his kids and their families. We will miss him. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Beckham family.
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Larry could spin a yarn or tell a tell with the eloquence and grace of a beautiful white swan as it glides through the water on a spring day. He could hold the attention of people longer in one setting than just about anyone I have know at SW. His timing was impeccable and delivery was well received and heart felt. He was probably one of the most gifted orators in the history of the Southwestern Company. It is a shame that Southwestern didn’t capture Larry’s voice telling about some of the fun stories of the history of his organization, and the funny things that happened while working with the “Chief”, Mr. Fred Landers.
Larry, was very polished and dignified in the way he carried himself. He prided himself in developing a different and better breed of sales people than the rest of the company. He was a fierce competitor.
Larry, may you rest in peace with your heavenly Father.
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I worked with Larry in 1988-1990 when I sold for Southwestern and felt very blessed and privledged to have learned from one of the GREATEST salesmen in the world. Larry was a master at getting you to stretch yourself and be better than you thought you could. Those of us who knew him and knew him well strived to be like him. Larry will be greatly missed by so many of us and always fondly remembered. It was truly amazing to see all the people who knew and loved Larry at the Memorial service in Houston yesterday. Larry touched and influenced so many people for good and only a small portion of them were able to be there. I will miss Larry greatly and am thankful for the influence he had in my life.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time of great loss.
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A message about memorial contributions from The Beckham Family:
As you may know, one of Larry’s greatest passions was helping others realize their own God given potential. I cannot think of a better ministry that would reflect his passion than Royal Family Kids’ Camp. It is a nationwide organization that helps provide a wonderful, God centered, camp experience to children who have no parents. He had the wonderful opportunity to serve at this camp last year (I know, I know, hard to believe, but true). Your contribution to this organization in honor of Larry would be a very meaningful way to carry on Larry’s passion for helping others.
Thank you in advance for having a generous heart and wanting to do something that would make such a meaningful lasting impression on Larry’s behalf!
If you desire, you may make your contribution to Royal Family Kids’ Camp through our home church:
Royal Family Kids’ Camp
c/o WoodsEdge Community Church
25333 Gosling Road
Spring, TX 77389
With a grateful heart,
Shelly Beckham & Family
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I had the honor of working with Larry for 4 of the 11 years I was on the bookfield. He was a role model for me in every way and became a type of father figure to me at a time when I really needed that type of person in my life. He had this gift of making a person laugh at how we, at times, take ourselves way too seriously. That gift kept me out there on the bookfield on those tough, hot days when I was on the phone to Nashville and ready to shuck it in. His door was always open to me when I came back through at the end of the summer and his encouragement helped me to believe in myself. He will be very much missed.
-Jeff “College Stuff” Lackey
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My favorite memory of Larry was when he covered objections at Sales School. His collection of funny words people would say was hilarious! “Son, is that the King Jesus transaction of the Bible?” “Is that the Navy’s Tropical Bible?” “Son, we’d love to buy but times are hard. My husband has a detached rectum and the doctor says glasses will not help. We got high expenses.” I still crack up when I remember him.
Keith Hill ‘78-’83
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Becky Sudman Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Keith – Dan Moore and I were discussing the infamous Larry Beckham lexicon just a few weeks ago. Dan quoted those exact same phrases! I never had the privilege to hear Larry speak, but I am guessing his phrases are imprinted in the memories of thousands of bookpeople.
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I just learned of Larry’s passing this morning. I had not seen him for 30 years.
He was my sales manager from 73-76 at SW and we were good friends. I have continued to be in sales most of my life and I can say without a doubt that Larry was the most talented natural salesman and communicator I have ever met. His influence changed the course of my life and I will always be grateful for that.
My heart goes out to his family.
Joe Hazelbaker
Hendersonville, TN
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During my eight years on the bookfield, I never met anyone as creative as Larry. One summer selling in Georgia he found a little possum and would go to the door with the critter perched on his shoulder and without his sales case. People would let him in, he would cash them out and then go bring in what they had bought from the car. He was talented, down to earth and truly gifted by God.
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I heard of Larry’s passing this afternoon while at Tom James here in Dallas. Larry introduced me to them in Memphis, when we graduated from Harding. We worked on the bookfield in Mascoutah, IL and there tasted my first success with his encouragement. The Sunday meetings, church folks taking us skinny boys home for dinner and the beginning of the “Larry Lexicon” are all pleasant memories. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and children, whom I haven’t seen in many years. We talked in October and he caught me up on them with pride and a sense of humor. He was a great salesman and his talent, humor and great heart will be missed.
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I just googled Larry’s name to see what he was up to and was saddened to hear of his passing.During my summers in the bookfield, I had frequent conversations with Larry, and I always appreciated his steadiness,his professionalism and his sense of humor. Although we hadn’t been in contact for many years, learning that he is gone leaves me feeling an empty spot inside. Rest in peace Larry…and thanks.
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There are many like me who after our encounter with Larry started stroking our chin a cirtain way or maybe spining a pen while contemplating and by drawing out a calender on a paper napkin. This and many other traits of LB live on in us all, I can honestly say that my life would be diferent had I not met Larry 20 yrs ago. He was genuenly passionate about everything he did and ernestly enjoyed sharing it. You may have died Larry, but u live on in the thousands of lifes you touched and the things you shared with us, your passion for old cars, Roy Orbison, Waffle house and a great funny story. Adios Amigo
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