There are some folks you meet that are always happy to help and never seem to want anything. They're the good people that make life a joy.
Milwaukee radio veteran – legend, even – Larry Hansen is one of those guys. I've never heard anyone say anything but a kind word about Larry, who I met through Andy Tarnoff when Hansen was involved in producing early OnMilwaukee commercials.
On Dec. 8 last year, while working on his car in the garage of his Okauchee home, a driver swerved off the road and hit him. Since then, Larry has undergone numerous surgeries for many injuries and he lost a leg.
Because he's always been such a kind guy, folks are eager to lend a hand, and at least one benefit has been held for him to help cover medical costs.
Now, there's another one this weekend.
Larry's Benefit Ride, Saturday, June 10 at 11 a.m., takes place at the Okauchee American Legion Post, N50W34750 Wisconsin Ave.
The event is hosted by the Open Road Angels Female Bike Group and The Okauchee Legion #399.
"These gals are awesome," Larry says. "They're doing this benefit this Saturday for me to
help offset some of the expenses associated with my prosthetic leg."
Registration runs from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m. and kickstands go up at 11. The Sawyer Road Band will perform from 2 to 6 p.m. and there will be a silent auction and 50/50 raffle, as well as food available for sale all day.
Should it rain, the event will be moved to Sunday. But call ahead if there's precipitation.
Donation is $15 for riders and $10 for passengers.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
