Lawrence Quinton Maxwell, husband, coach, teacher, and father, passed peacefully Friday June 11, 2021, reuniting joyfully with many loved ones who have passed before.
Born October 12th, 1935, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Quinton Thoresen Maxwell and Marjorie Snarr Maxwell. From a young age dad exhibited a brilliant mind and had a knack for writing and public speaking. He once participated in a Wiz Kid competition and won a blue Schwinn Bike. He won another competition after writing an essay on church sports and got to meet church President David O. McKay. He frustrated his elementary school teachers because he always knew the answers and finished his assignments so quickly that they would send him outside to play where he would always shoot hoops.
Dad was an amazing athlete and loved the outdoors. He loved fishing, playing basketball, football, and baseball. “Machine Gun Maxwell” started varsity as a sophomore on the South High School basketball team, winning the state championship in 1952. He received both academic and athletic scholarships to the University of Utah where he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Health Sciences.
From the moment he met our beautiful mother, Elaine Fox, in 1955, he knew he would some day marry her. That day came June 5th, 1958, in the Salt Lake City Temple.
Dad had a stellar coaching career as one of the most successful coaches of all time in the state of Utah from 1961-1994. He won 5 state basketball titles, 15 tennis titles, had 502 basketball victories, finishing his career with the state 4A basketball championship in 1994. He had the privilege of coaching many great athletes including 5 all-Americans and 3 professional athletes. He influenced countless lives on and off the court.
As much as he loved sports though, dad loved serving the Lord more. His life was one of covenant keeping and enduring to the end. He served 7 missions as sharing the gospel and seeing lives changed brought him the greatest joy. Some of his other callings included: Gospel doctrine Instructor, Seventy, Sunday School President, High Priest group leader, Branch President, and High Councilor; anywhere the lord needed him to serve, dad was always willing, and magnified his calling. He was a wonderful example of integrity; He not only knew the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but he lived it!
Of all his callings, dad’s favorite was that of husband and family patriarch. He is the father of 6 children; Laurie (Arthur) Healey, Mike (Nora Webster), Brent (Mendy Shumway), Robert (Cynthia Ingham), Carie, and Sharon (Trevor) Dale; 23 grandchildren, and 33 great-grandchildren. Dad was a constant teacher, loyal friend and respected by all who knew him.
Services for Lawrence will be held on Thursday, June 17th, 2021, at 11 am at the East Millcreek Stake Center 3103 E. Craig Drive, Utah with a viewing held on Wednesday, June 16th from 6:30-8:30 pm and Thursday from 10:00 to 10:45 am prior to services. Interment will be at Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Recorded Services may be viewed at: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/TvYBbzbLOjzGizUdkFFPH2CoLmRUVAPoD5LfU17BrTS-1ij3GK-81UaePJeuILDw.4DQXOiGu-RJhk7BT?startTime=1623948427000
Coach was my coach for my 3 years at Highland. We had the great and the hard. I’m grateful for everything he taught me on and off the court. May your burdens be lifted with time. Thank you for sharing him with so many
Coach Maxwell not only taught us to play basketball but taught us important life lessons. He taught us to prepare, and to play hard, and to take pride in being the best that we could be. We knew that he wanted us to win games but we also knew that he wanted to teach us lessons that would help us throughout our lives. Thank you Coach Maxwell. Scott H. Smith, basketball and tennis ’69-’71.
Larry was a great coach and mentor. He will be dearly missed. Our condolences from the Gordon Kener family.
To the Larry Maxwell family: My heart is heavy in rememberance of Coach Maxwell. It was my distinct privilege to cover Larry's Highland High School basketball games in the 1960s for The Salt Lake Tribune as the paper's prep editor. He was a class act and so approachable for interviews. It wasn't about him, but the hundreds of kids he coached. Few opposing coaches could ever figure out the full-court presses he employed with super-talented athletes. He was truly a Coach for the ages in the high school realm. May he rest in eternal peace.
I am sorry Larry sudenly passed away. I was hoping to get to know him better.
His records in sports is amazing.
Best wishesm Rec Shumway
Dear Maxwell Family,
We found out about your father's passing today. We, as a family, want to express our condolences to your family for your father's passing. The Jackson family was profoundly touched by your father and his influence on us as a coach but more in the way he encouraged us to be the best people we could be. He had high expectations for us and encouraged us to become the best person and players possible. His interest and love for us was something we have felt during our lives and it continues to influence us. We are so grateful for our association with the entire Maxwell family. You are all in our prayers and thoughts at this time of loss. We love you all.
Steve, Richard, Robert, Scott, John and Alan Jackson
To His Wife and Children and other Family Members, Sorry to hear about Larry passing away. I remember him from Highland High School. I was his manager for the Basketball team for 4 years. He was a very man to work with. I will miss him very much. I send my Sympathy's and Condolence's to you all. May you all be comforted. Rest In Peace Larry. Thanks for all you did for me.
Just a few days before Coach Maxwell's passing, I was up in Dillon, Montana, talking with my niece's husband about his son's freshman year of basketball. As we walked and talked I was reminded of my appreciation and admiration for my high school basketball coach, Larry Maxwell. I wish I had reached out to him earlier and more often to thank him for his mentoring. He taught me that hard work and discipline were key. At the beginning of my sophomore year (1972), as I remember (maybe repeated in 1973), Coach took us to the track. We ran 220s for time, walking around the other 220 and back to the starting line, only to line up and run again for time. This was repeated several times as we trained. It was brutal! It seems like he also had us running with the cross country team to "get ready" for the season. He expected us to run, and run hard so that when it was game time we could still give our best.
Another memory had to do with offense and defense. Coach wanted us to play tough defense, but even when we were "on defense" it seemed he wanted us on offense, trying to get the ball back as soon as possible (full court presses) and score. He would say: "It's hard to lose if you outscore the other team." Always pushing us for more points. I know I've got the words wrong, perhaps, but that was the sentiment. It was full-tilt, all the time.
Condolences to the Maxwell family, but congratulations for such a fine legacy.
We will always love you, Coach Maxwell!