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Exceeding expectations
The first thing you notice about Larry Dinger is the smile that always seems to be plastered to his face. And fittingly for a man whose last name is synonymous with America's past time, Larry never appears happier than when he is in the stands at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.Larry, 28, has worked as an usher at Washington Nationals home games since July of last year, showing fans to their seats, giving instructions and answering questions. This would come as a great surprise to those who knew Larry as a child; he did not speak until he was 7 years old.
Larry's mother, Martha Neave, says that doctors thought her son was just “a little bit delayed,” and it was not until Larry turned 11 that a formal diagnosis was made. Genetic testing showed that Larry had a partial duplication of a chromosome, an unnamed disorder that resulted in his mental and physical disabilities. He also suffers from Peroneal Muscular Atrophy, which requires he wear braces on both feet.
“If we had paid attention to the reports that came from all the experts, all the things he was never going to do, most of those things never came true,” Martha said. “He's far exceeded what the reports said he would do.”
Larry once again exceeded his mother's expectations last June when he accompanied his stepfather, Rick Neave, to an interview with the Nationals. Though Martha warned him it was likely the team would not have a position available, Larry came bursting through the door of their Fairfax home shouting, “You were wrong, Mom!” Both he and Rick, a teacher and JV softball coach at Fairfax High School, were hired.
"They said they wanted to hire Larry and I was his transportation, so they'll take me, too," Rick said with a laugh.
“Larry is an excellent employee,” said Guest Services Manager Kynny Sutton, who was in charge of his hiring. “He's an inspiration in my mind. He has the disability, but he comes to work and he's always smiling. We love him around here.”
Though Larry is unable to play baseball – he had a short stint in Little League's Challenger Division at age 11 – he has always loved the game. When he's not reading the Harry Potter series – the family's three dogs are named Hagrid, Hermione and Ronnie – Larry frequently checks player stats and always makes sure to find out who is pitching in the next day's game. His affinity for the diamond only intensified when baseball was brought back to Washington.
“I've seen a change [in him] since baseball came back,” said Martha, who began ushering on the same team as Larry and Rick this season. “We were going to an Orioles game and Larry watched the Orioles for 10 days ahead of time so he would learn the players. He said, 'I'm studying down here.'”
Larry concentrates on his duties at the stadium just as much as the box scores he scours at home. He doesn't take his job lightly, a trait that has not gone unnoticed and one that earned him a trophy in May as Employee of the Month.
“I got Employee of the Month for the month of May for always showing up on time, holding the fans up when the batter's in the box and being cheerful,” said Larry, who makes sure no fans are walking down the aisles when a pitch is being delivered.
“When you teach Larry something, he remembers it,” Sutton said. “That smile never leaves his face. He turns a room around. I never hear anybody say anything bad about him.”
Just as surely as Larry knows that Ronnie Belliard – his favorite National – hit his sixth home run of the season Sunday to give Washington a win over Baltimore, he knows how long he hopes to be an usher at Nationals Park.
“Forever,” he said.
What a wonderful story about Larry! He's a wonderful young man and we're glad to see Larry being appreciated. We've known Larry for four years when his stepfather was our daughter's field hockey coach. Martha and Rick Neave are great parents. I'm not surprised to hear that they've made this a family affair! The Nationals couldn't be luckier.
The Thaxtons
Posted by mthaxton
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