Herb Larkins...is with his real "guardian angels"..

[Box and one]

Yesterday the Joker had a post here in MJ's titled " what is the nicest thing you have done..." So after reading a few I answered and posted what everyone here did for Herb Larkins as guardian angels.. I pasted where all the donations came from...raised over $3,000 for him...etc...so I called Herb up on the telephone since I haven't talked to him in a couple of months...was going to send him his x-mas gift of $100 like I have done since 1973....the phone was disconnected....he has had the same number for 40 years...he had called me about 2 months ago and left a message on my home phone...I thought maybe he changed his number...I left my phone book in NY so I didn't have Herb's mother or Herb's best friend Billy E...number..got a hold of Billy's number and go the bad news... Herb passed away the night the Sandy Storm hit NY...he had an infection and was operated on...the infection spread....Billy said he asked about me and a few North Texas friends...his last words to Billy was " I am a warrior"....he had a service in NY but after speaking to his mother last night they are going to have something in the spring because so many people couldn't make it because of the storm...they never had my Texas phone number so they couldn't get a hold of me...at the service one of Herbs cousin had googled his name and it mentions the story of the guardian angels and what they did buying him a tv..the story was read to everyone...
I feel so bad that I didn't get back to him when he called..I was going to call him before I left for Texas and then never got around to it...I would catch up with him before x-mas...what a jerk I am......I loved talking to him esp about hoops...he was a big time Knick fan and our last conversion was about Jason Kidd vs Lin....
Herb was the most gentle,humble person you ever met...held the NYC long jump record behind Bob Beamon for 10 yrs...at 6'3 could dunk 2 basketballs...have great memories of him playing for North Texas...
I guess he is with the real "angels " today...we on earth were his guardian ones...I'll go back and paste how the guardian angel story started..there are many of you that never heard it...and to all those that contributed..thanks again...Billy E said when those envelopes were arriving Herb was going crazy saying who are these people..Billy would just say.."there guardian angels"....
Herb was a warrior....right to the end...I think he's sitting right next to St Peter up there in heaven..and probably asking him" who do we play this week"...Iona or Siena"

 

[hogman14]

Box

Can't beat yourself up. I know it's tough, but what you did for this man will not be forgotten. He'll be keeping an eye on you.

Happy Holidays
Jeremy

 

[Box and one]

This is my original post back in 2005 or 6..have pictures of Herb here in MJ's but have no idea how to fin them..if someone knows that would be great...will paste the results also...

Will try not to make this too long ..
I just got off the phone with an old North Texas buddy of mine,Herb Larkins.I met Herb in 1969.He was a basketball player at NT and a track star.Played two sports.He had a vertical leap of 44"[inches] and was a potential superstar.Lou Carnesecca recruited him at St Johns but Herbs HS grades were lacking.He played HS ball in Flushing,NY.In 1969 he had the 2nd best long jump in NYC history.Bob Beamon was 1st.
Lou put Herb at Wharton CC in Houston,Texas.Herb played 2 yrs there but Lou thought the Johnnies were over his head.Herb ended up at North Texas.Was recruited by Wichta,Tulsa,ORU,Bradley,etc.But his high school teammate Billy Etheridge who was also at Wharton wasn't getting any full ride offers.North Texas wanted Herb so bad they offered Billy a full ride.Thats why Herb came to NT.
In early Oct , 1970 the NT b-ball players were scrimmaging illegally in the mens gym.Practice didn't start till Oct 12th.But all the NT coaches were up in the top bleachers watching the illegal scrimmage.An incident happened on the court and Herb hit his head.He layed down on the court motionless.My roommate and I were trying to talk to Herb.He whispered..I can't feel anything...I ran to the gym office and called the ambulance.The coaches all hurried out of the gym and left knowing they could get in trouble.
Herb has not moved his legs or arms in 36 years.He is a quadripalegic. It would take me another hour to explain everything since.He went into a depression for yrs and never talked. North Texas St gave Herb a black and white TV.That is all.In the last 15 yrs he became a born again christian. He lives in an appartment in Flushing.His Mom is still alive and visits him daily.He gets social sercurity money and has someone from the state in his appartment 12 hours a day.
Billy E graduated from NT,married a Texan like me and moved to back to NYC.He is now a Court Supervisor in Manhattan in charge of all the court officers in the justice dept . Billy's 2 sons are lawyers in NY.He takes care of Herb,calls everyday,and visits 2 or 3 times a week. Every Christmas I send Herb a check of $100.As I write this I realize how little that is. In 1982 Lou Carenesecca at the Nets game donated $12,000 to Herb to buy a van with a lift.Dr J also donated money.I have a picture in my office of the two of them.And he still has the van and it drives fine.He needs it for hospital appts,etc.
Herb does everything with his straw.He answers the phone,turns on his TV,lets people in his appartment,types,etc.

I talked to Billy E and asked what does herb need.He said his mother just bought him a state of the art wheel chair for $7,000.No insurance or anything,she paid for it herself.He has a old TV that doesn't work,computer is 10 yrs old that can't get e-mail. A 1982 van that Billy has under his insurance.
Billy said Herb lives a simple life.I asked if Herb had some guardians angels help him out what would he do.Billy quote was "something like that would impact his life." He always talks about a flat screen.But not sure what he would do.

Well...I need your help.Could everyone here get an envelope and a stamp.Take $5.00 out of your wallet,fold it in a piece of paper, seal the envelop,and address it to..

Herb Larkins
138-49 Apt 7 A
Elder Ave
Flushing,NY 11355

Just say" this is from one of your guardian angels".

No names,no mention of anything.Please that is important.Billy E is the only one who knows where this is coming from.He is not telling Herbs mother.
Just some guardian angels in cyberspace.
I know some might be skeptical and possibly think this is a sham or something.There are enough people here that know me over the years.
Also Mike Shalin a sportwriter of the Boston Herald knows Herbs story and wrote an artice years ago about him in the NY Post.Mikes brother Steve was the person who got Herb to Wharton .If anyone in the Boston area wants to contact Mike he'll vouch about the story.You could come in here and post Shalins acknowlegement.
I'm sure there are some of you out there that can come in this post and confirm my story.A North Texas student who hit his head in the Mens gym and has never,ever,ever,ever recieved anything from his school.Please pass this on or bump this post.Maybe someone can call the Denton Record where Herb made headlines several times on the court.

But I am going for the 1st time ever to ask you to be a guardian angel...please in this Christmas spirt this will be the greatest gift Herb ever receives.And I know what ever religion you believe in you will be a better person...Herb one night left Kerr Hall,walked into a gym and has never moved his arms and legs since 1970.
Be a guardian angel...

Herb Larkins
138-49 Apt 7 A
Elder Ave
Flushing NY 11355

In a week or two I'll give you an update..

 

[Box and one]

Box and one
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Hudson Valley area.....NY
Posts: 5,456

I was way off on the Herb Larkins number..just found this in cyber space..

This is what Billy sent me today.These are all the cities and states that you guys contributed to Herbs Christmas suprise...Pretty awesome display of great people.Again cannot thank you guys enough.Herb has his new TV finally.Still not on the wall mounts yet.He is going to take a picture of himself and the TV.I'll call him this week and get the most recent update.Over 40 states,Canada,Japan,Iraq,Germany....unreal Over 232 guardians..
You all don't really know how much you touched another human being.Herb will write soon and when you see what you have given him...all of you earned a wing or two in heaven...Thank you all so much...
Guardian Angel?s
WITHIN THE UNITED STATES

STATE CITIES

ALABAMA Montgomery (2), Birmingham (4)

ARKANSAS Little Rock, Bentonville

ARIZONA Phoenix (3)

CALIFORNIA San Diego (4), San Jose, Longbeach, Santa Ana (2), Petaluma, Fresno, Yreka, Elk Grove

COLORADO Denver (3)

CONNECTICUT Hartford, Jewett City, Stamford (2), Southern Conn. (2),

FLORIDA Jacksonville, St. Petersburg, Bay County, Ft. Lauderdale, South Fl.(2), North Bay, Miami, Mid-Florida, Orlando, North Fl., Ft. Myers

GEORGIA Macon (2), Villa, Atlanta

ILLINOIS Champaign, Carol Stream (4), Bloomington, Palatine, Rockford, Chicago

INDIANA Uarmil, Munster, Indianapolis, Ft. Wayne

IOWA Des Moines (2), Waterloo

KANSAS Hays (2)

KENTUCKY Ashland, Bowling Green (2), South Central, Paducah

LOUISIANA Shreveport

MARYLAND Baltimore (4), Woodstock

MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex-Essex (2), Springfield, Mansfield, North West Boston, Brockton, Central

MICHIGAN Birmingham, Grand Rapids, Detroit (3)

MINNESOTA Duluth, Minneapolis (2), Detroit Lakes

MISSISSIPPI Jackson, Gulfport

MISSOURI Girardeau, St. Louis, Mid Missouri, Kansas City (4)

NEVADA Reno (2), Las Vegas

NEW HAMPSHIRE Portsmouth
STATE CITIES

NEW JERSEY South Jersey, Kearny (2), Newark, Piscataway, E. Brunswick

NEW YORK Alabany (7), Syracuse, Rochester (3), Buffalo (4), Mid Hudson (2), Brooklyn (3), Queens (2), New York (3)

NORTH CAROLINA Charlotte (2), Piedmont Triad (2), Kingston, Raleigh (2), Shelby, Rural Hall

OHIO Cincinnati, Columbus (3), Youngstown, Lima (2), Akron, Dayton

OKLAHOMA Tulsa (4), Oklahoma City (2)

OREGON Portland (2)

PENNSYLVANIA Scranton (2) Philadelphia (4), Pittsburg, Lehigh Valley (2), Wilkes-Barre (3), Harrisburg

RHODE ISLAND New Castle, Providence

SOUTH CAROLINA Greenville

SOUTH DAKOTA Pierre

TENNESSEE Knoxville (3), Memphis, Chattanooga, Nashville, Lebanon

TEXAS Dallas (4), Addison, Houston (3), North Houston (2), Ft. Worth (6), North Texas (3), Austin (3), East Texas (2), Texarkana, Waco (2), Greenville, Pongview

VIRGINIA Alexandria, Roanoke

WASHINGTON Black Diamond

WEST VIRGINIA Beckley

WISCONSIN Madison (4), Oshkosh

OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

CANADA (4) IRAQ - ARMY POST

EUROPE - DEUTCHE JAPAN - INATSU


TOTALS: IN THE U.S.A. 225
OUTSIDE U.S.A. 007
Grand Total 232 (Guardian Angel?s responded)

wow.. that was pretty powerful what we did....I am so nervous..I just called his house and the phone was disconnected...don't have my phone book here in Texas so I went to zaba search..they had his address right but phone is disconnected....tried calling Billy E his best buddy but can't find his number...will get back..
________

 

[JOSHNAUDI]

RIP Herb

 

[krc]

RIP Herb

 

[ripken8]

i'll always remember this story Box, i was one of the NYers (buffalo)

RIP Herb

 

[UGA12]

Sorry to hear this Box. I will tell you the same thing today that I did 7 years ago, we should all be so lucky to have people like you as a friend. You stuck by his side and was there for him when many people would have moved on. I can only hope that I would have enough to me to do the same, much respect man!


RIP Herb

 

[The Mover]

RIP Herb Larkins. Box thanks for letting us know.

 

[Old School]

BOX

pics I found were red x..

website no longer exist either..

if somebody can find them ..point me to them and I will host and post

 

[bohawk]

Box-Man:Thanks for the post!Always thought
about this @Xmas time:0008

 

[Box and one]

thanks guys...its amazing how many letters were sent...have been calling some of my buddies that still don't know...been so down all day....a few weeks ago lost another good friend...will tell that story another time....again thank's...

 

[jas4bama]

Box,,New to forum but wish I could have been a part of that a few years ago,,You are truly a gentleman,,,And will be rewarded when you and Herb meet in God's Kingdom,,,:0074

 

[Blanco Bob]

Herb

Herb

Just read about HL passing. Sadness! I remember watching the most graceful athlete ever. I was talking with my brother today about Steve Shalin and his part of bringing players to NT and Wichita State. HL's name came up. Brother is too young to remember Herb so I was telling him a few stories about him.
My google search lead me here. My father was the coach the year b4 The accident. Memories of 125th street gang flooded over me.
R.I.P. HL

 

[Box and one]

wow..Bob...125th Street Gang...then you know me...this weekend we are having a reunion in Dallas with about 25 people...almost the whole gang is there plus the Syndicate guys...we are playing golf on friday,Robbie G's friday nite and Tino's on Saturday..not sure if you knows those guys...
Back in May we had the Herb Larkins Service....not sure if I posted the story...his mother and sisters put it together in Queens...if I posted it maybe someone can find it or tell me..if I didn't will come back and tell the story..there were over 100 people there...I was one of the guest speakers and when Billy E introduced me the place went crazy....all the people knew about the "Guardian Angels.... back later
Bob..was your father Dan Spika??? Gene Robbins was Herbs coach...Harry Miller was there too but think that was after Herb..let me know..if your father was Coach Spika he was amazing...

 

[Maggot]

loved being a part of the angels who helped herb many years ago on tjis site. amazing

 

[Box and one]

maggot thank you.....just starting reading this again..its been awhile..it was pretty amazing what we all did here for herb....I have a picture of him in my office so I get to see him everyday...the kindest most gentle person god ever put on this earth...it was nice that we all made his life a little better with his big TV...RIP Herb..