Strager, Larry Steven
Larry Steven Strager, of Blacksburg, Va., better known to all as Duke Strager joined his heavenly father on Wednesday, November 28, 2007.
Born as the first child to Lunelle and George (Jug) Strager in 1948 in Clarksburg, W.Va., he graduated from Cambridge High School in Ohio. Duke was an ambidextrous quarterback and attended Virginia Tech on a football scholarship. He played for Coach Jerry Claiborne as a defensive end from 1965 to 1971. He graduated from VT with a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration.
He taught and coached football with his father at St. Clairsville High School from 1971 to 1975 and then worked for Josten’s for several years before returning to teaching and coaching at Elizabeth Forward High School and Bethel Park High School outside of Pittsburgh, Pa. He coached college football at Carnegie Melon University in Pittsburgh before joining Coach Frank Beamer’s staff at Murray State in 1986. He moved with Beamer and the coaching staff to Virginia Tech and was a VT Defensive End football coach from 1987 to 1991. Duke also coached at Concord College and for the Roanoke Rush as well as returning to teaching with Montgomery County Schools as a Special Ed Instructor.
Duke is survived by his wife, Linny Strager; and his three children from his marriage to Bev Strager, Shaye Strager Gilmartin, Dallas Strager and Brea Strager; and his siblings, Kym Smith, Scott Strager and Amy Marlin.
He spent the last year of his life working with Linny at Carol Lee Doughnuts and living in Blacksburg. Duke Strager was a well respected and loyal friend, coach, mentor, brother, father and husband.
Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 1, 2007 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Blacksburg.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Duke Strager Memorial Fund, c/o First National Bank, 601 North Main Street, Blacksburg, Va. 24060.
Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg, Va.
August 8, 2019 @ 5:25 pm
In 1960, I enrolled into Notre Dame High in Clarksburg as a freshman. My freshman Civics teacher was George “Jug” Strager. He was a demanding teacher and a great coach. My oldest brother started on his varsity team that year at guard, (Dick Brumage). What a team they had! Duke was a few years younger that I was at the time.
It’s ironic that Duke went to Va. Tech and a boy who graduated with me in ’64 also went to Va. Tech — Frank Loria. I believe that Frank was a roommate with Frank Beamer.
I do remember Duke as a kid. He had a very distinctive walk. After our freshman year, coach Strager left ND and went to OHIO to coach. He was missed.
I remember he smoked Kent cigarettes. One day, in Civics class, Coach called me to his desk. He handed me a dollar and said “Run over to Jurick’s and get me a pack of “coffin-nails.” At the time I didn’t know what he was talking about. He explained that he wanted cigarettes and off i ran across the street to do as I was told. At that age, it was an honor to run and errand for Coach.