Larry “Reds” Cardonick is considered to be one of the great high school football players to come out of the city of Philadelphia. He was the only player in Olney High School’s history and only Philadelphian honored for the 1950 All-State First Team (All-Pennsylvania-Scholastic). He also played for Germantown Academy as a guard. Larry was named to the 1951 A-American National High School squad. He was described as an “entire line” when named to the “All-Interacademic Eleven”. Larry joined the Temple University football program in 1952. He earned the Temple Quarterback Club’s outstanding played award.

In 1954 he was named to the Associated Press “All-State Eleven” as well as the All Eastern United States Team. Larry was honoredas Temple’s Most Valuable football player in 1954 and chosen for the 1954 All Pennsylvania College football – first team. He graduated Temple with a BS degree in business and went on to play three years of pro football in the Canadian Professional Football League for the Sarnia Imperials. Larry received a degree in special education at Glassboro State College and became a renowned special-ed teacher.

He has devoted his life to teaching handicapped children and adults and has created innovative physical education programs. He received the Hannah G. Solomon Award in 1978 for twenty years of tireless work with Camden County developmentally disabled children and adults. The award is named in honor of the founder of the National Council of Jewish Women and is given to “that person in the community who has made known and stimulated interest and action in the unmet needs of the community.” Larry served as coordinator of Project Child Find, a state-mandated program to locate and aid the underserved handicapped.

Cardonick is in the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the Jewish Basketball League for his outstanding achievements in football.