Last chance to see Larry Gelwix and the Highland Rugby team together

It’s been more than two years since Larry Gelwix came and visited the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business. However, I’m sure those of you who attended that Dean’s Convocation, where he spoke, still remember it. Larry’s a legendary rugby coach and his delivery style, which is peppered with anecdotes, surely got your attention. The principles he teaches stick with you. I still remember him explaining how you can tell a lot about a person’s true character by watching the way they treat people they don’t need.

His Highland Rugby team has tallied 415 wins and 10 losses since it was started in 1975. It has won 19 national championships. The movie “Forever Strong” was inspired by Larry and his players.

Larry still has a day job of course. He’s featured as the “Getaway Guru” on radio and television. He and Mark Faldmo founded Columbus Travel in 2001. He’s about to do a new kind of getaway, however. He and his wife, Cathy, have been called to preside over the California, Fresno Mission for the next three years for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

If you’ve seen the movie "Forever Strong" and you are like me, you probably have thought you’d like to take in one of his games. This weekend will be your last chance. This Saturday the Highland Rugby team may be playing for the National Championship in Salt Lake City. The Highland team plays West Shore, New Jersey, at 9 a.m. on Friday and then, if they win, they play again at 1:30 p.m. The Friday games will be played at the South Jordan Rec Center located at 10866 South Redwood Road, South Jordan. There is no admission charge for the Friday games.

If they win those two games, then we can all have one last chance to see them play in a National Championship Match at Rio Tinto Stadium at 4:30 p.m., May 21. For more information, click here. For information about tickets, click here.

Steve Eaton