Larry Wayland Jernigan

Larry Wayland Jernigan of Scottsdale, Ariz., passed away peacefully April 1, 2012. Larry was born in Las Vegas, Nev., on Oct. 26, 1943, to parents Wayland and Lenora.

He grew up in Odessa, Texas, where he excelled in most sports, notably football and baseball, starring in both at Odessa High School. Larry earned a football scholarship to Southern Methodist University, where he played tailback from 1962 through 1966, playing in a number of championship games such as the 1963 Sun Bowl and the 1966 Cotton Bowl.

Larry was a success in the business world as well, making a name for himself in the telecommunications industry, including senior executive positions with ROLM Corporation, IBM, Votrax, where he was president and CEO and ultimately with Fujitsu Corporation, which led him and Karen to Scottsdale, their home for more than 20 years.

Larry had three passions in his adult life – golf, a passion he shared with Karen that allowed them to enjoy traveling and playing golf together; information technology, namely computers, where his relentless pursuit of excellence made him a self-taught expert and the family IT department; and finally his family, where he was not only a wonderful husband, father, brother, grandfather and uncle, but a mentor, advisor, coach, confidant and a friend.

His greatest love, however, was his wife and soul mate, Karen, whom he married in 1987. He touched many lives in different ways, and they have been immeasurably enriched by knowing him.