Larry L. Painter

I met Larry for the first time back in December 2006. I was in training as a Store Director and so very nervous! My TSD at the time told me, "Calm down... Larry is fantastic. He's down to earth and you will love him." My trainer hit the nail on the head. Larry came in with Carl Brown and Scott Riggs, walked the store, and then proceeded to really, and I mean really, get to know this new kid on the block. I remember how warm and personable he was when he shook my hand and welcomed me to Hollywood Video. Larry made such a wonderful impression on me, that a high ranking corporate ZVP would ask me about my experience, interests, family and he even chatted about New Releases he had seen! When I got his birthday call October 2007, in my naivete I replied to his audix and thanked him for thinking of me on my birthday, and that I had a wonderful birthday in the store with my associates (who threw me a birthday party with a dozen regular customers). Imagine my surprise when he called me personally two days later. Larry actually remembered me from my training almost a year previously and spoke with me briefly about how my first year had been. Larry..... I may not have worked with you as closely as many have, and judging from not only my experiences with you, but the heart warming and loving posts and memories... You were a true champion in every sense of the word and our Company will always shine a bit brighter because of you.

I have a few memories that I will always remember.

My first time ever meeting Larry face to face was on January 4, 2006 during a store tour he was doing in Nashville. I met him at a store with Wade, Rodney & Lewis. We walked both sides of the fence, watched an associate play guitar hero and then went out for dinner. We had a very nice time talking business and leadership ideas, but I am sweating bullets because this is the ZVP. Not too long into the dinner he had to excuse himself so he could make it back to the hotel in time to catch his Texas Longhorns in the National Championship against USC. I couldn't believe it, he was a normal guy. That cemented him having my loyalty. He never once made me feel like anything other than his equal.

Last fall my Game Crazy district was absorbed into other districts and I was asked to step down to a Store Manager level. Wade spoke with me and told me that he would do whatever he could to get me back to the DM level, and then Larry called me to discuss the move as well. He apologized for the circumstance and then promised me that he would find a spot for me on his management team. A month later I received the call and was offered a DM spot with Hollywood. Larry called me again and joked, "I told you I would do my best to get you back on the team". I later found out that both he and Wade fought hard to keep me from having to step down. For Larry to take the time not only fight for me, but to call me and give me a promise and then follow up as well. I have never had more professional respect for anyone than I do for Larry and Wade from that point on.

I have been very fortunate to have had great leadership since I started with Game Crazy / Hollywood Video in both Larry and Wade. I have never been happier professionally than I have for the last 3 years. Larry has helped me find out who I want to be like in the way I lead my team and live my life. I don't know if he ever realized what an effect he had on myself and the others around him, but I will ever forget him and always remember him. He was a very special person.

 

Gosh, where do I begin about Larry Painter? He was truly the best! He was a very caring, kind-hearted person and he was so easy to work with and for! I knew I could call him with any concern or issue whether personal or professional. He always knew the right words to say to me. He would fly to Houston to take me to lunch for Admin Day, he came to see me when I gave birth to my son. He was a friend more than he was a boss! I learned so much from Larry...he would say to me, "we need to pull data from the FCC and make a pivot table in Excel." WHAT? Hello, I felt stupid, I did not know how to make a pivot table. He walked me through everything and I learned it...then he felt the need to pass on the reports to the other ZVP's which in turn wanted their admin's to know how to do these reports. Thanks LARRY I got a lot of flack from my peers! There are so many memories I have and they were all great! All I can say is that I am greatful to have known Larry as he was and still is an inspiration to me! BIG LAR, I love you and will miss you but I know you are with God watching over us! What a great place to be!

I have so many memories of Larry and all of them are very special.  He was truly the glue that held everything together in the Zone.  When all the chaos happend at HV with the bankruptcy, Larry told everyone to call, no matter what.  I did reach out to him last July and he assured me times may be rough but together, the goodness of the people would help bring HV thru.  His words which I will never forget were, "Never run from something, always run to something".  He was always insightful.  I would share articles with him whether from the industry or about running shoes or even the eclipse of Mars.  He ALWAYS wrote back and told me what it meant to him to share these things with a partner.  When my position was eliminated, it was he who made the shock hurt less. Even with all he was going thru he took the time to calm my fears.  A selfless man who always  thought of the partners.  Larry is a mentor I will never forget.  My heart and prayers go out to his family. It will not make the hurt go away but know that so many people loved and admired Larry, and will keep his memory alive.