Larry Barnett served as a major league baseball umpire in the American League for 31 years from 1969–1999, a record at the time, and became the youngest umpire in the majors at age 24, which remains a current record. He umpired 4 World Series, 5 All Star Games, and 7 American League Championship Series, also a current record. He was the home plate umpire in Vida Blue’s no-hitter game on 9/21/70. When umpires were issued numbers in 1980, Barnett wore number 22. He was very active in visiting veterans’ hospitals and was one of only 2 people to visit them all, making over 3000 visits in 40 years. He was invited to the White House 2 times and received the Point of Light honor from President George H. W. Bush. Barnett was born in Nitro on 1/3/45. His father, Orville, worked at Viscose in Nitro for several years, and Barnett, his wife Freda, and several relatives are buried in the area.