Remembering Larry Cotlar

• Longtime Des Moines, IA sports-talk radio personality Larry Cotlar died on Saturday night when he was swept from his van during flash flooding. According to WHO-TV, at approximately 8:50pm Saturday night, Des Moines police officers received a report of an occupied van, stalled in high water at 50th and Twana Drive. As officers responded, they learned the occupants had left the van, and that Cotlar had been swept away by the flood waters. At around 12:39am first responders located Cotlar, deceased, several blocks away from where the van was found.

Cotler, 65, had done a weekly show on KRNT-AM (1350 ESPN), which is owned by Saga’s Des Moines Radio Group.

The station posted a statement, which read, “All of us at 1350 ESPN and the Des Moines Radio Group are devastated by the loss of our voice, our colleague, and our friend, Larry Cotlar.

Larry was killed Saturday night during the flooding throughout the city of Des Moines. Larry was the voice of sports in Central Iowa. A long-time broadcaster, he was the play-by-play announcer for Drake Men’s Basketball and also worked with the Iowa Barnstormers. Larry hosted his own weekly show on 1350 ESPN, featuring sports figures from Iowa and across the country.

Our thoughts are with his wife, Deb and their son, Zach. There is absolutely no replacing Larry. He will be thought of fondly and missed greatly by his family, friends, and his extended families in the sports and broadcasting communities.”