Hometown HERO Larry Carr

SCHOA proudly celebrates another Hometown HERO honor, with the tribute of a long-time Sun City resident whose impact is written across the community in supportive, fun and celebratory events that continuously give back.

Larry Carr was surprised to be named a SCHOA Hometown HERO during a recent Thursday BINGO event hosted by the Sundial Men’s Club, with several of his family and friends in the audience.

“We present this honor to a person who moved to Sun City in 2000 with the premise of enjoying our many beautiful golf courses year-round, and in turn has left a trail of positive impact across our community,” said Lisa Gray, General Manager of Sun City Home Owners Association.

Gray joined SCHOA Board President Ed Van Ness and Compliance Manager Kristine Schmitz to present the honor as Carr stood on stage presenting BINGO prizes. Several family members donned “Larry’s Ladies” shirts as they showed their support from the audience.

Carr’s impact has, in fact, his name all over it – with the Men’s Club popular Man of the Year award often referred to as the “Larry Carr Man of the Year Award.”

When the Oakmont Recreation Center needed to be remodeled years ago, their club joined meetings temporarily with the Bell Recreation Center’s Men’s Club; prompting Carr to become a force in ultimately combining the clubs, and their separate Bingo efforts, into one massive positive force for Sun City.

Today, the Sundial Men’s Club packs the large center auditorium for BINGO and uses proceeds to distribute tens of thousands of dollars in donations to nonprofits throughout Sun City. Carr is also well known as the cook who serves delicious lunches at the Sundial club room, every Saturday for 60 to more than 100 guests.

His impact was so successful that the club eliminated a rule that a member could only serve as president for two years, “when the members realized how important and beneficial it was to have Larry leading the club,” Gray explained.

SCHOA Board President Ed Van Ness, also a long-time Men’s Club volunteer, thanked Carr for his impact “that leaves our community as a better place. Larry definitely deserves this honor and recognition. His impact will fuel the support our residents and neighbors long into the future, in many ways.”

The club has grown to more than 600 members, and also hosts three annual golf tournaments. Carr himself has served more than two decades on the club Board of Directors.

In addition to his efforts with the Men’s Club, Carr was instrumental with helping to put on the 40th Anniversary Parade in Sun City.

Every day at 7am, Carr is known to be the first to open the Men’s Club doors. “He is the heart and soul of the club,” Van Ness explained. “You can always find him at the club, every day from 7 am until Noon or longer.”

Congratulations to Larry for being SCHOA’s Hometown HERO.

SCHOA’s Hometown HERO Program was created to recognize and honor Sun City residents who are making a difference in the lives of others within our community. Recipients will be chosen monthly and could be an individual or group, but they must live in Sun City and serve Sun City residents. To nominate your SCHOA Hometown HERO, visit https://suncityhoa.org/hometownhero.