Nilts Larson
East High School teacher Nilts Eugene Larson 61, died at his desk February 2, 1966 of a stroke a few minutes before his 8:30 am class was to begin. Two students found Mr. Larson slumped forward on his desk about 8:20 am. His first class was a supervised study period.
The two students placed Mr. Larson on the classroom floor and one of them administered mouth to mouth resuscitation while the other one went for help. Assistant basketball and football Coach Ted Weight arrived moments later and when Mr. Larson did not respond to the mouth to mouth method, Mr. Weight attempted the normal method of artificial respiration. Police ambulance aides pronounced him dead minutes after 8:30 am.
Mr. Larson was a graduate of the University of Utah in 1928 and a teacher at East High for 30 years starting in 1936. He taught sociology and psychology at East. He was a member of the LDS Church.
Mr. Larson was born June 13, 1904 in Sweden. He Married Elsie Larson in 1935 and they later divorced. He is survived by one brother Abel Larson.
Jim Campbell
One of those students who found him was Kim Lloyd, (class of '67), the brother of our classmate Diane and husband of Christy Odell, also of our class.
Sissel Hadel (Hawkes)
I remember the morning of his death,but another morning comes to mind...a morning when Mr. Larsen announced that those students who lost class points while working on school activities should expect a lower grade...except Ann Whitney. ...he,also,was smitten.