Super Bowl champ returns home

Larry Cole returned to his roots this past weekend to sign copies of his new 242-page book "Living The Dream On America's Team."
Cole, a 1964 graduate of Granite Falls High School, was a standout prep and collegiate athlete who went on to play 13 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He was a two-time Super Bowl champion, played in three other Super Bowls and appeared in 26 playoff games in all as part of the vaunted "Doomsday Defense."
"Do you have your Super Bowl rings with you?" a woman politely asked Cole as he signed a copy of his book for her at the Granite Falls Community Center Saturday afternoon.
"Sure do," he said proudly, holding out his two hands where he revealed one on each of his ring fingers.
Cole signed copies of his book, as well as photos and other paraphernalia, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Machinery Museum in Hanley Falls, then from 2-5 p.m. at the Granite Falls Community Center. Cole was accompanied by his wife, Linda. They still live in the Dallas area, where Larry was a successful real estate developer for many years after he retired from football.
After growing up on a farm outside of Clarkfield, Cole's family moved to the west side of Granite Falls when he was 12 years old. Besides being an outstanding grid star, Cole was also a standout basketball player for the Kilowatts.
"I never wanted to leave the farm," Cole said. "But I soon grew to like Granite Falls."
After graduating from Granite Falls High School, Cole was a defensive lineman for Air Force Academy.
A cheating scandal at the academy, though, saw nearly 100 cadets expelled or resign. Although not implicated, Cole, too, decided to leave and enrolled at the University of Houston. Disgruntled that he wasn't a starter with Houston, he then transferred to the University of Hawaii, rejoining seven of his former Air Force Academy teammates.
With Cole as its top player in 1967, Hawaii had its first winning season in nearly 50 years.
Cole was drafted in the 16th round (there were 17 rounds in the NFL draft then) by the Cowboys in 1968. Cole was the first player from the University of Hawaii to ever be drafted in the NFL.
"I worked hard and I was never intimidated by anyone, even if they were bigger than me," Cole laughed. "If you are intimidated in the NFL, you're never going to make it."
Told by the Cowboys that he was too small and needed to bulk up, Cole went back to Granite Falls to work out and add some weight to his 6-foot-4 frame. Eventually, he gained 20 pounds of muscle and weighed 245 pounds when he began training camp his rookie season with the Cowboys.
Cole was fortunate to be able to play with such greats as Roger Staubach, Bob Lilly, Harvey Martin, Drew Pearson, Jethro Pugh and Ed "Too Tall" Jones. Cole was a part of the Super Bowl champion Cowboys, dubbed "America's Team" in both Super Bowl VI and XII.
Cole finished his career with 60 sacks.
Those in line to purchase his book included a surprise visit by his third-grade teacher, as well as a former high school football teammate. The others were in awe of the former professional football player; many politely asking for a photo.
"Sure," he said to each one. "Be glad to."
Their hero had returned home.