Rec leader and businessman Calvert dies
He served on parks commission for decades
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Larry Calvert, a Fort Dodge insurance agency owner who had a leading role in guiding local parks and recreation programs for decades, died Wednesday at age 80.
"In terms of parks and recreation, we are not where we are today without Larry," said Lori Branderhorst, the city's former recreation director who retired June 30.
Calvert served as a member of the city's Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission for decades.
Branderhorst, who worked for 46 years in various roles in the recreation department, said she cannot remember a time when Calvert was not on the commission.
'Larry was always the one who had our department's back, always knew how it functioned and always understood city funding," she said.
While he had input on every parks and recreation program, Branderhorst recalled that he had special interest in two areas: Lakeside Municipal Golf Course and aquatics.
"Larry's passion was the golf course," she said. "Larry's knowledge was invaluable."
Calvert was deeply involved in replacing the former above-ground pool in Expo Park on North Seventh Street with the in-ground pool that many local residents likely remember. That pool was later replaced with the Rosedale Rapids Aquatics center at 10th Avenue North and 32nd Street.. Brandhorst said Calvert and fellow commission member Dan Garst were very involved in planning the new facility.
Professionally, Calvert began his career at the former Trost-Moeller Insurance Co. in 1974. He became a co-owner of that firm. Then in 1985, he and Bob Singer bought the company.
In 1988, the company merged with Kelley Insurance Agency Inc. to form Calvert, Singer & Kelley Insurance Services Inc.
He was a graduate of Fort Dodge Senior High School and Winona State College in Minnesota.
Calvert was a member of the Noon Sertoma Club and the YMCA Board of Directors.