MOORHEAD, Minn. (Valley News Live) – The Moorhead community gathered to honor longtime Moorhead High School and Concordia College athletic commentator Larry Knutson, who announced his retirement last month.
Knutson has been calling Moorhead Spud contests since 1979. Shortly after, he began announcing Concordia games.
“Everyplace I sit, everyplace I stand, if there’s a contest going on, that’s my favorite,” Knutson said.
During his career, he has been the voice of Spud football, basketball and hockey.
“Larry’s a bright light in this community. He’s caring, he shows up, he walks alongside folks no matter where they’re at in their journey,” said Taylor Wilson, Knutson’s Pastor at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.
Knutson has called between 4,000 and 5,000 games during his career. He is inducted into the Minnesota Football Coaches Hall of Fame and the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.
He said he cannot pick one favorite memory.
“Game winning 3-point field goal attempts, all those kinds of things that go into an element of broadcast have made it possible that we’re standing here talking about them on a night such as this,” Knutson said.
Wilson said Knutson’s work will not be forgotten.
“He really cares for this community of Moorhead and we are so grateful that the community of Moorhead can show up for him as he retires,” Wilson said.
“I got to feel very fortunate that we’ve been able to enjoy the camaraderie that has been established by the fans, and the fanbase of Moorhead in particular. And all those other schools that we’ve been involved in,” Knutson said.
Moorhead Mayor Shelley Carlson declared May 6th, 2026, Larry Knutson Day.
He will be honored during the Spuds Football Team’s first home game of the season with the dedication of the “Larry Knutson Press Box.”
This article was written by Valley News Live’s Sydney Zatz.
