R.I.P.: Greg Larson WFOY FL Radio Host, Sports Reporter

Greg Larson

Greg Larson, an opinionated, sometimes over-the-top personality who impacted sports media on the First Coast for nearly 50 years, died on Saturday at his home at the age of 73, according to jacksonville.com.  

According to his daughter, Melody Harding, Larson had been in declining health for months and was found unresponsive when she went to visit. 

Larson was a sports beat writer and columnist at the Florida Times-Union for 16 years and then hosted a sports talk radio show on St. Augustine's News/Talk WFOY 102.1 FM / AM 1240 for 32 years until his passing. 

He did his last radio show from home on Friday. 

“That was Greg … he worked right to the end,” said Abel Harding the father of one of Larson’s four grandchildren. “That was his life. When it comes to sports minds, you’d be hard-pressed to find anybody in this area who knew more. He was an encyclopedia of sports knowledge.” 

Larson worked for the Times-Union from 1974 to 1989, where he established a reputation as a tireless worker who covered almost every beat before becoming a columnist. 

He was hired from the Ocala Star-Banner by former Times-Union sports editor Fred Seely. 

“He was an incredibly hard worker,” Seely said.  David Lamm, who was later Larson’s boss at the Times-Union, also praised Larson for his work ethic and versatility. 

“He was prolific,” Lamm said. “Greg covered everything from bowling to the World Series and just churned out the copy.” 

Larson also had unconventional story and column ideas. He once made arrangements in New York to slide into home plate at Yankee Stadium, shoot free throws at Madison Square Garden and serve balls at the National Tennis Center on the same day then wrote a column about it. 

Larson was also an avid participant in sports. He played on an 30-and-over baseball league, softball leagues, tennis and golf.

He once proclaimed himself on the air as "the best fat athlete in Jacksonville."