Lawrence D. “Larry” Garvey was an entrepreneur, telecommunications pioneer and tireless advocate for the wireless industry. While attending Loyola University, in 1958 Larry and his brother Don founded a paging company that became Radiofone. Based in New Orleans, Radiofone grew to one of the largest privately held wireless companies in the U.S.
In the 1960s and 1970s Larry served as board member and later president of the National Association of Radiotelephone Systems (NARS). In the mid-1970s, when the FCC was considering how to allocate the new cellular frequencies, as NARS president Larry and colleagues persuasively argued that Radio Common Carriers (RCCs) be allowed to compete with monopoly landline companies for cellular licenses. Larry viewed this opportunity as “life or death” for companies like Radiofone. He was convinced that robust competition would maximize innovation, lower prices and provide better service to the public.
Larry’s position prevailed. Radiofone and other early RCCs provided examples to the FCC of entrepreneurial strength and technical innovation. They demonstrated that independent carriers were successfully competitive in telecommunications. The FCC’s final order on the cellular frequencies allocation was a victory and helped ignite the explosive growth and innovation in wireless services.
Throughout the industry Larry was known as an innovator, relentless negotiator and friend. He took time to advise colleagues, listen to employees and chat with customers. He was devoted to Marla, his wife of 52 years, his children and grandchildren, as well as numerous civic and charitable causes. Larry was an avid outdoorsman, and could often be found fishing, hunting or working in the fields of his south Louisiana farm. In 2010, Larry passed away at age 73.