A genuinely kind, fun loving and thoughtful person, Larry Houchin, passed away unexpectedly on February 10, 2011. He was 61.

Larry was a husband, father, businessman, civic leader, supporter of the University of Oklahoma and remarkable friend to hundreds of people throughout Tulsa and the state.

Larry was born on November 19, 1949, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to the late Louise and John Houchin. Larry's father served as chairman of Phillips Petroleum Company and as a University of Oklahoma Regent and Trustee of the OU Foundation.

Larry attended College High School in Bartlesville and graduated from Oklahoma University in 1972. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. He was inducted into the Bartlesville Commission Hall of Fame in 2009.

While in college, Larry married Jola Higginbottom, his wife of nearly 40 years. Jola and Larry had two children, Phillip and Jola Ann, of whom they are immensely proud. Phillip is a senior vice president at Patriot Bank. He and his wife Katy are expecting their first child in September. Annie, also of Tulsa, is with MidCon Energy as a geology technician.

Following college, Larry began his 38-year career as an investment professional. After leadership roles at several investment companies, he and his business partner, Pete Adamson, founded Houchin, Adamson & Co. in 1980. A highly successful broker-dealer firm, the company later became Adams Hall Investment Management.

Larry was always an active supporter of the University of Oklahoma and OU athletics. He was a member of the board of advisors of the Michael F. Price College of Business for over twenty years and was recently honored with the college's Distinguished Alumni Award. He also served on the Athletic Council.

Community involvement was a way of life throughout his career. He served on the advisory board of the Tulsa Salvation Army for many years and was a member of the board of trustees for the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics. He also served on the board of directors of the Cascia Hall Foundation.

At the age of 43, Larry became the youngest president of Southern Hills Country Club, where he was instrumental in bringing high profile golf tournaments to Tulsa, including the PGA in 1997 and the U.S. Open in 2001.

Apart from his own family, perhaps the achievement that would make him the proudest are the many people from all walks of life who called Larry their friend. He was a colleague, mentor, advisor and much more. He was gifted with the ability to make every encounter cheerful, often humorous, and always uplifting.

In addition to his wife Jola and his children Phillip and Annie and Phillip's wife Katy, Larry is survived by his sister Jane Gammill and her husband Lee of Ross, California, his brother John Houchin and his wife Suellen of Waynesville, North Carolina, his mother-in-law Jean Higginbottom of Tulsa, and his brother-in-law Dr. Frank Higginbottom and his wife Leith of Dallas. His family also includes many nieces and nephews and their children.

Services celebrating the life of Larry Houchin will be held on Tuesday, February 22 at 3:00 pm at First United Methodist Church, 1115 S. Boulder Ave., Tulsa.

Donations can be made in Larry's memory to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 397, Tulsa, OK 74101.