Kennedy adds two deserving inductees to its hall of fame

Kennedy inducted its Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2024 during halftime of Friday’s football game at Bloomington Stadium.

The inductees are both proud members of the graduating Class of 1977 – Julie (Christensen) Barber and Craig Larson.

Julie (Christensen) Barber

Julie (Christiansen) Barber was a nine-time varsity letter winner who helped guide the volleyball, basketball, track and field and fastpitch softball programs in the years after the start of Title IX.

As a sophomore, Barber was part of the only Kennedy volleyball team to play in the state tournament. The 1974 squad finished runner-up to Osseo 15-7, 15-10 in the inaugural one-class state tournament.

Members from that first tournament were recognized during the state tournament at Xcel Energy Center last November. Joining Kennedy and Osseo were Crookston, Moorhead, Redwood Falls, Rochester Mayo, Virginia and Windom players.

Two years later, Barber captained the Eagles as a senior.

Barber was a three-year Kennedy marching band/varsity band/wind ensemble member as an accomplished flute player. She received a Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Award recipient in 1977.

She played for the Tuffies of the Bloomington Women’s AA Softball League from 1976-1979 and was a member of the Parks Sparks USA Volleyball program from 1976-1982.

On the BEC-TV broadcast, Mark Hultgren asked Barber about being a three-sport athlete. Following three older brothers, Barber didn’t know the difference. “Once volleyball season ended, you went to basketball, track and softball in the spring, etc. Then, ‘what else can I do?’” she said. “There is a marching band and honor society, but I learned that staying active, giving back, and supporting the community and younger girls are the keys.”

Barber continued to play volleyball in college at the University of Minnesota for four years, earning a place on the All-Decade Team (1980s). The Gophers won the Big Ten Conference title in 1979, and she captained the team in 1980.

Before joining the Gophers, Barber played in the 1977 National USA Volleyball Tournament in Hilo, Hawaii and was named Most Valuable Player at the Winnipeg Volleyball Classic Invitational.

After graduating in 1982 with a bachelor of science in physical education and coaching, Barber became a teacher and volleyball/tennis coach at Klein High School in Klein, Texas. She received the Tulip Award for Outstanding Service at the Memorial-Harmann Hospital-The Woodlands Medical Center.

“What an adventure,” she said. “I packed up my little Volkswagen bug and drove to Texas for my next adventure. It was a credit to my experiences at Kennedy and the University of Minnesota that I could pass on to the next generation.”

In her bio remarks, Barber said being involved in athletics in high school and college, along with teaching and coaching, “gave me the skills to be a leader and role model to other young girls and women. While also shaping my development as a player and coach through my teamwork, perseverance and sportsmanship.”

She dedicated her induction to her parents, “whose love and support instilled the drive, confidence and commitment to strive for only the best in my athletic and personal achievement in life’s journey.”

Craig Larson

Larson was a three-sport standout for Kennedy in football, basketball and baseball. As a captain for each program, he was named All-State by Sun Newspapers in basketball as a senior. He led the team in scoring as a senior and earned the Hustle Award as a junior and senior.

He owned 10 passing records for Kennedy football, including a career and a single-season record that stood for 18 years.

Larson said supportive parents had a significant impact on his life. “He would let us kids go out and play the games, but he was very supportive of us, never getting too up or down, just supported me,” Larson said.

He played collegiate football at the University of Minnesota-Morris, helping the team reach the NCAA Division III national semifinals as a senior. He was part of two undefeated UMM football teams, including the No. 1 nationally ranked team in 1978.

One memory that stood out for Larson was being coached by former Normandale Community College coach Dick Smith as a senior when he became the starting quarterback for the Cougars.

He was inducted into the UMM Hall of Fame in 2010.

Larson went on to a 35-year career in packaging sales with Mobil Chemical, winning the Sales of the Year award four times before retiring at age 57.

Larson coached basketball in the Eastview High School programs, including boys basketball, and was the baseball team’s public address announcer for five years. He currently volunteers at Nativity Catholic School in Bloomington, where he coaches boys basketball.