ADA, Okla.- Farrell and Larry Large have been named the recipients of the 2024 Milam Award.
The Milam Award is traditionally presented annually by ECU to a former Tiger football player who not only excelled in the classroom and on the gridiron, but also distinguished themselves in their chosen career. The award is named in honor of Joe Milam, a former educator and coach for ECU. This year the Milam Award will be presented at the ECU Alumni Gala on Friday, Oct. 4.
“The Milam Award recognizes individuals who embody the values of hard work, perseverance, and integrity,” said ECU’s Director of Athletics, Matt Cole. “Farrell and Larry Large consistently demonstrated these qualities, making them exemplary recipients of this esteemed award.”
Farrell Large is a graduate of East Central State College, now known as ECU, who received his bachelor’s degree from the university in 1963 before continuing on to earn his master’s degree in 1969. During his time at ECU, Farrell was a member of the Tiger football team, where he played for legendary coach, Elvan George.
“I played for Coach Elvan George in high school and in college,” said Farrell. “Coach went to East Central [University] in 1959, and I followed him out there and played football for him for four more years.”
Farrell pursued a career in both education and football. He spent the next years of his life as a teacher and football coach at Pauls Valley High School and Ada High School. In 1970, he joined the football coaching staff at Cameron University in Lawton and remained there until 1973 when he was appointed head football coach and athletic director at Chickasha High School.
He left Oklahoma in 1976 when he joined Brewer High School in White Settlement, Texas, as a teacher and coach. He returned to Cameron in 1979 as offense coordinator and served in that position until the end of the 1984-85 school year. It was then that he completed his 22-year career in education.
Farrell remained in Lawton, where he began his career as an agent with Farmers Insurance Group, opening his own agency in 1984. He retired in 2014, the same year he was inducted into the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Though his career as a coach had ended years prior, Farrell continued his long-standing support for the sport and for ECU throughout the rest of his career and into retirement. In 2012, he began fundraising for the ECU football team and remains an avid supporter today.
“My family has a long history with ECU,” said Farrell. “It goes back to my mom. Three of her sisters and a sister-in-law all graduated with a teacher’s degree from ECU... I graduated, my daughter-in-law, my daughter and my grandson Cameron, who played with ECU, graduated with a bachelor’s in 2018 and a master’s in 2020.”
The second recipient of this year’s Milam Award, Larry Large, was a graduate of East Central State College who received his bachelor’s degree from the university in 1967 and his master’s degree in 1974. Though Larry didn’t have the opportunity to play football in high school or college, he possessed a passion for the sport that was shared by his cousin, Farrell Large, and recognized by Coach George.
Larry would meet his future wife, Carol Cash, while a student at ECU and the two would marry in 1959.
After graduation, Larry would follow in the footsteps of his cousin Farrell and would build a career as a high school coach and teacher in Elmore City and Noble. He went on to also serve time as a school administrator in Fittstown, Stratford, Konawa and Williamson County Schools in Franklin, Tenn.
Larry and Carol’s move to Tenn. was influenced by their relationship with an up-and-coming Blake Shelton.
“We were able to take early retirement in Oklahoma and move to Tennessee in 1996… We moved there to be with Blake. But we both ended up teaching out there until we moved back to Oklahoma.”
After retiring from education in 2002, the pair planned their move back to Oklahoma, returning in 2004. Soon after, Larry returned to his passion of ECU football.
“After we moved back to Oklahoma, he went to almost every practice at [ECU],” continued Carol. “He knew all the coaches and he knew all the [players].
“Larry was one of the first people I got a check from when I did my fundraising,” Farrell added.
“Even when he was sick, we took a laptop to the hospital, and he watched it stream. He didn’t miss a game,” Carol concluded.
“Please join us in celebrating Farrell and Larry Large for their lasting impact on East Central University Football,” added Cole. “Their legacy should and will continue to inspire future generations of Tigers.”
“I enjoy ECU, I love ECU, and I am honored to receive the Milam Award,” stated Farrell. “I’m sorry that Larry is not here to be with me, he would be honored. Very honored.”
To register, visit the ECU Alumni Gala Dinner and Dance page at ecok.edu/2024HC.
For more information, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 580-559-5651 or email alumni@ecok.edu.
Tickets are $30 for individuals and $50 for couples. Guests are encouraged to RSVP by Sept. 30.