In a world full of Pickles 

There is only one Larry King 

By Forest Riggs 

You don’t have to dig too far back into your recall to remember a loveable Galveston resident and very active community member, Larry King, a.k.a. Pickles. 

Larry was well known in the community. As an entertainer, artist, theatre director, actor, bartender and other titles, Larry possessed a sharp wit mingled with his own style of humorous sarcasm. No one could hold a candle to the handsome Larry King. When it came to creativity, the “Islander By Choice†was very blessed, and for years could be found with an apron and measuring tape, working among the myriad of costumes and theatrical supplies at Danny Morgan’s Costume Shop on Broadway. 

After leaving Houston and relocating to Galveston, Larry shared his talent with audiences and productions all over the island. He had already participated in more than 30 musical and stage productions as well as having earned a BA and an MFA in theatre and music. In some he performed, in others he directed and coached, as well as assisted with the costuming and set design. Larry came to Galveston in a new role as Managing Director of the Main Street Theatre. In the popular clubs and on stages around Galveston, King performed a cabaret-style set and is best remembered for his cover of “Mrs. Brownâ€. When the bundle of talent would let his “alter ego†Sophia Ball out to play, islanders and visitors were treated to some good, old-fashioned drag — the funny stuff. Sophia even competed and won the coveted title of Miss ’Possum Queen at Robert’s Lafitte Bar. (The contest is an annual event that brings throngs to club to support their favorite contender for Miss ’Possum Queen.)
Everything changed for Larry King on the dark night of January 6, 2016. As far as one’s life being a blank canvass to be completed over many years and experiences, Larry’s brilliant canvas was wiped clean in an instant. 

Out drinking with two friends and traveling through Groves, Texas, Larry was riding as their passenger. In a flash, a horrible crash occurred that would forever change Larry’s life. More dead than alive, King was rushed to Christus Southeast Texas Hospital – St. Elizabeth in Beaumont. 

The odds of survival were slim and certainly iffy for his making a full recovery. A huge percentage of Larry’s brain had been crushed upon impact. In a coma for weeks and up against a no-survival diagnosis, Larry’s family stayed by his side for 14 weeks, hoping and praying. When he did stir and come out of the coma, he was childlike. He had no memory of the accident or anything from his past life. When he was able to be moved, King was taken to Touchstone Neurorecovery Center in Conroe, Texas. (Larry’s identical twin brother Mark and his wife had visited the center to check it out before the transfer.) 

Four months in the center found a very impaired Larry and one who had to completely start over. He had to learn to speak again, to feed himself, to walk and to perform bodily functions without assistance. In essence, the brilliant and talented man had been reduced to a small child.  With determination, prayers and his family’s holding vigil by his side, Larry slowly began to come back — as much as his traumatized brain would allow.

As Larry progressed with the various therapies and treatments, those around him felt great hope that their Larry would return to them. 

It has been more than 96 months since that fateful night in early January of 2016. Larry King — Pickles — has indeed survived and continues to grow in mind, spirituality and strength. Many have asked and inquired about Larry and have expressed great concern over the past months. The severity of the injuries made it difficult for him to receive visitors as well as for his loving family to manage the many inquiries during his main rehab and subsequent readjustment to life as a brain injured patient. 

I have kept in close contact with Pickles over the past years and recently asked about doing a story or update for all of his Galveston friends. Knowing that there are still some major deficits from the brain injury, I was reluctant to push the idea with my friend. Larry agreed to answer my questions and I would write the story. When he returned his answers via email, I was so impressed. Any paraphrasing would diminish the intense messages the “new†Larry wanted to share. Opening his heart and mind, Larry answered the following questions:

Montrose Star: Do you have any memories of the accident? What did you recall when you woke from the long coma? 

Larry King: No memories of that night or why I was in the hospital. I recall nothing until I was at the rehab center. Brain injury memory loss is severe. No memories of my college classes or 30 musical theatre productions or being a professional teacher. 

MS: How has this changed your life? 

LK: When I was in rehab I had to evaluate my entire life, as memories surfaced. 

MS: What changes did the accident cause in your life? 

LK: So many. I will explain: SOBER/HONESTY: I was a passenger that night. My last drinking night. Sobriety since then has been about change and creating a new lifestyle, far away from my drinking years. Healing involved discussing with my family, my being a gay person. It has been a testimony for others with similar issues. SPIRITUAL: I attended a spiritual program dealing with abuse and addiction. I did the step program and now realize that as a drinking man, I had low self-esteem. I am now honest with myself and others about being a sober gay man. I have a strong testimony and I share it. God put this event in my life to motivate me to make changes and to return to Him. HUMBLE: After rehab I could not get a job anywhere. With all my degrees and having been a certified educator. I had to change my thoughts on degrees and employment possibilities as an older man. MEMORY LOSS: I now love to watch documentaries of musical artists that I admired in my early years. I’ve lost a lot of memories and I work at trying to remember things. Sometimes in dreams things come back to me. 

MS: Is your memory improving? Flashbacks? 

LK: My short-term memory is better than long term. In dreams I remember things about days on the farm in Graham with my family. I rely on old photographs and even college transcripts to remind me of things in my past. I have also dreamed about the stress of former jobs. 

MS: You sustained such a horrible injury to your brain. 

LK: My mom said I had to relearn everything in the first hospital…using a fork…brushing my teeth, washing my face. I still have a bump over my right eye and can feel and see facial changes and a scar on my nose. The impact on my head was tremendous. 

MS: Do you still perform or sing? 

LK: Not really. My last performance was years ago. I have not performed in public other than singing in church. I do still have my tenor range and I sing in the car and at home. 

MS: In talking with you, I find you quiet and restrained compared to pre-accident Larry. Is Pickles still in there? 

LK: PICKLES IS STILL HERE but a different sober man who now thinks before he speaks and no longer judges others for their actions. The new Larry does not react like he used to when he was an employee in a gay bar or as a drinking man.  

MS: It seems a lot of good has come from the accident. Do you agree?  

LK: I think the accident was necessary for me to be honest with myself and evaluate my former self in order to enjoy a positive life. It made me honest with my family about my sexuality and past events that I had endured after teaching years. It was bad, I had two DWIs and had to use a breathalyzer in my car during graduate school. I learned to not be selfish or self-centered. Having been a professional musical theatre performer in Texas, I became that way. I am no longer discouraged by having two college degrees and realizing they are unable to get me job interviews like I was back in those days. I was a drinking man. Spiritual growth is amazing and gives me daily comfort. I recently received my eight-year sobriety chip, something I would not have done had there been no accident and brain injury.  

MS: What is the great lesson or something you need to share with others?  

LK: I believe that difficult events and conflicts are learning experiences in order to evaluate your past and realize that changes can be made with confidence and courage. Many have gone through abuse and addictions, even daily stresses that we all have. Our testimony or story could be a positive earful for suffering hearts to consider. Through what I and others have endured and done, we show that we can make changes one step at a time. I truly believe in fellowship. This is needed. Things like group support and sharing, whether or not it is spiritual. Nothing is ever the first time for a conflict. Things happen.  

MS: What are your goals and future plans as you continue on this journey?  

LK: Sobriety, spiritual growth and honesty with myself and others. These are my daily plans/goals and rewards. I am not sure I could ever be part of a musical production again or a solo vocalist, but I can volunteer to help and assist in these and other events in my community. MS: You sound happy, Larry.  

LK: I do praise God for my new life and relocating me to be with my family. I was away for so long, 1999 to 2016. My family is my strength. I am finally an older, sober, gay man, at peace with myself and the world. 

MS: Do you think Pickles will ever be back on-stage singing “Mrs. Brown�  

LK:  Pickles will now be patient about singing in public and she has no desire to be center stage as in his past lifestyle. 

MS: But don’t you miss the great, often funny, drag performances you gave us?  

LK: No memory, but I do know I did charity drag and sang live for many events at Robert’s and other bars. I sang show tunes and did comedy acts. I was even a former Miss ’Possum Queen for a while. A title holder! Robert was a wonderful entertainer and supported us all. He encouraged us to use our talents. I may have been the only singing ’Possum Queen who had two college degrees and was a music major in the 1990s. 

MS: Any closing words?  

LK: I am grateful for all the love and support, especially that was shown to me and my family after the accident. My memories are not that great but when I do have them, they are interesting and remind me of a life that I no longer live and make me grateful for the life that I do live.
So friends, you can see that Larry King a.k.a. Pickles is alive and well. He lives in Watauga, Texas with his twin brother Mark and sister-in-law…and cats! Larry often visits the family farm in Graham where he assists his loving mother with mowing hay and various other projects around the home place. 

Love one another and take nothing for granted. A split second changed everything for the sweetest Pickles we know and love. 

Forest Riggs lives in Galveston. His book, ‘Galveston Memories and Related Stories’ is available at Amazon.com, OutSkirtsPress.com and ForestRiggs.com.