Voice of the Cowboys reflects on 10 killed

The office is spacious with cherry wood furniture, black detailing, a large desk with little clutter and two sofa chairs a few feet from the desk.

Larry Reece's office may seem fairly traditional, but the man behind the desk is far from traditional. Reece is Oklahoma State University's most vocal fan. Known as the "stadium and arena voice of the OSU Cowboys," Reece uses his booming baritone to announce games at Gallagher-Iba Arena and Boone Pickens Stadium.

Reece came to OSU as a junior in 1990 — his career began when he was asked to announce women's basketball that same year. The following year the athletic director took a chance to add some enthusiasm and had Reece announce men's basketball and football. Reece has been announcing for 22 years, and has no plans of going anywhere.

"I was a student, and I have been able to stay right here in Stillwater, which I think a lot of students like that idea," Reece said. "They come here and fall in love with Stillwater. I have been fortunate to be able to pitch a tent and stay here."

Reece has grieved over the 10 who died in a plane crash 11 years ago today, and recently the four who died in November.

Reece said losing seven friends in the crash was one of the hardest things he has ever experienced

"I think back to 2001, we postponed a game or two," Reece said. "You had to realize we had 10 funerals, so there had to be a gap for the team to grieve and the team could go to all the funerals."

Reece said the next home game on Feb. 5, 2001, against the University of Missouri was emotional. Reece said he still remembers what he said before the crowd observed a moment of silence.

"Tonight remembering our fallen 10, we will prove once gain that this is the rowdiest arena in the country," Reece said.

He said from that moment, the fans went crazy. The Cowboys won 69-66.

"I think it was part of the healing process," Reece said. "It was good medicine."

Reece said one of the hardest aspects of 2001 was figuring out who was on that plane.

Three planes left Broomfield, Colo., on Saturday; one crashed shortly after takeoff outside Denver. Reece said he was the first at the airport. Once others arrived, they began figuring out who was missing. The other two flights had already landed in Stillwater, and Reece said everyone had gone home thinking the others would arrive later.

"We scrambled and wrote down on a piece of paper who we thought might have been on that plane," Reece said. "Then we went out into the parking lot and started looking for vehicles to identify whose vehicle was still there, because if their vehicle was still there, that meant that they probably weren't coming back."

It may be 11 years later, but Reece said emotions are still raw, especially with the Nov. 17 crash, which killed Cowgirl basketball coaches Kurt Budke and Miranda Serna and two OSU alums Olin and Paula Branstetter.

"Gallagher-Iba (Arena) will never be the same because Kurt Budke was such a big personality in this building," Reece said. "You knew when coach Budke was coming around the corner because he was kind of a boisterous guy."

Reece said he misses Serna and hates not having the Branstetter's sitting behind him at the women's basketball games.

Reece spoke at the Nov. 21 memorial service for the four, and said it was the hardest thing he has ever done. He asked former coach Eddie Sutton for suggestions.

"Back in 2001, (Eddie Sutton) was our John Wayne; he put the entire OSU family on his shoulders," Reece said.

The only suggestion Sutton had was that Reece would find a way to get through it.

Reece said these losses have changed his life. He said he appreciates life a little bit more and never misses the chance to tell his daughter, Lauren, that he loves her.

But Reece said getting back to basketball has helped the recovery process.

"You know losing people like we have twice puts sports into perspective," Reece said. "But it's amazing how sports can help heal."