If you happened to be between the ages of 12 and 24 anytime between the mid 1980's and early 1990's you no doubt listened to "Big" Larry Williams on ROCK 107.  Larry was the evening DJ on Utica/Rome's popular TOP 40 station for most of those years.

In addition to his booming voice introducing the latest hits from Duran Duran, Madonna, Def Leppard, Michael Jackson and Prince, Larry was a fixture at area high schools.  Each weekend he would be at one or more area high schools hosting a "Rock Hop."  Sometimes you would see ROCK 107's bright red Coca Cola Power Van parked near of the entrances to Sangertown Square Mall.  Odds were that Larry was at one of the mall stores, or at the center court hosting a live remote broadcast.  Many teens would be asking, "Big Larry, do you have any Bon Jovi concert tickets?"

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I was lucky enough to also have been part of that radio station during those years, and very fortunate to be a personal friend of Larry's.  His real name was Larry Oyer.  He grew up in Westmoreland.

In the early 90's, Larry and his wife Lyn relocated to the Albany area.  He worked on the air in the Capital District for some time, but then joined the staff of the Albany Times Union.   Soon after, I took a radio job in Southeastern Massachusetts, but we still remained close friends.  Larry (Williams) Oyer was a good guy, and fun to be around.  He was kind and upbeat, and the kind of person that anyone would have been proud to call a friend.

Sadly, Larry was diagnosed with malignant Melanoma.  He continued working each day while undergoing Chemo.  His condition worsened in late 2010, and he passed away in January, 2011.

"Big" larry Williams had a big voice and a big heart.  He brought countless smiles to radio listeners and to all those who knew him personally.

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