Marshall University welcomed the new Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Larry Crum, who is also a Marshall alumnus.

Before returning to Marshall, Crum worked with the International Hot Rod Association as the media and public relations manager as well as head photographer for six years.

“I love racing,” Crum said. “I’m a huge racing fan. My job at the newspaper (Ohio Valley Publishing) was to cover sports so I really wanted to cover motor sports and they said you can do whatever you want on the side. so I started doing a NASCAR feature that lead to a lot of interviews with NASCAR drivers and the International Hot Rod Association came to town every year at Kanawha Valley Motorsports Park and I sort of kept at it and eventually got a job with them.”

During his time with the IHRA, Crum traveled and put together drag racing events.

“We would have race weekends with up to 30,000 people, and it was a great opportunity to put on events, promote the series and take drivers around and use my PR degree promoting one of the largest motorsport sanctions in the country,” Crum said.

Crum graduated  in 2005 with a degree in public relations. During his time at Marshall, he completed his internship with Ohio Valley Publishing as a sports editor covering local high school sports, which lead to a full time job.

Crum said he has always wanted to work in the university system so when this position became available, he took it.

“I’ve been a really big supporter of Marshall since leaving here, and when this opportunity came up, it was just a great opportunity to serve Marshall and give back and also be closer to my family,” Crum said.

He said he plans to use social media to grow the alumni membership—a goal carried over from his job at IHRA.

One of Crum’s jobs at the IHRA was to help grow recognition of the association through social media.

“It was one of my favorite things, it sort of fell in my lap,” Crum said. “What I’m doing right now is very similar to that at the IHRA—the IHRA had roughly about 15,000 members all over the world, the alumni association has more than 100,000 alumni all over the world. It’s going to be similar communication in bringing the alumni back together through different forms, including social media.”

Crum said he is happy to be back at Marshall.

“I’m glad to be back,” Crum said “I’m excited to be here, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do.”

Sara Ryan can be contacted at [email protected].