Beloved ‘Paul Finebaum Show’ Caller Passes Away—Uncover the Untold Story Behind His Impact

Sometimes, the voices that echo longest aren’t those on the field but the ones calling in from home—loud, proud, and full of character. “Larry from Shelby” wasn’t just a caller on the Paul Finebaum Show; he was the quintessential fan whose wit and unwavering passion turned routine segments into moments that linger. It begs the question: how often do we overlook the true heartbeat of sports chatter, the folks whose voices fuel our collective love for the game? Even as Larry fought his toughest battle, tethered to a ventilator and oxygen, he clawed back one last time to dial in, proving that fandom is a relentless beast, sometimes stubborn to the very end. His passing isn’t just a loss for the show, but a poignant reminder of the stories wrapped inside every call, the humanity inside every cheer, laugh, and debate. Here’s to Larry—may his spirit keep the spirit of the show alive for years to come.

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The Paul Finebaum Show has had a lot of memorable calls into the show through the years, with some being so good that the callers have become favorites of both the fans and the showrunners.

Sadly, one of the show’s most famous and beloved callers has passed away. On Monday, Paul Finebaum announced that Larry Wallace – better known to fans as “Larry from Shelby” – passed away. He said that even while Wallace was on oxygen in the hospital he still wanted to call into the show.

“It is virtually impossible for me to begin the final hour with this news, which we have just learned about over the past few minutes,” Finebaum said. “Which is one of the truly iconic callers in the history of this show, Larry Wallace, Larry from Shelby, not very far from where we sit, has passed away, according to several of his friends. We heard from Larry just last week. It was an absolutely heartbreaking and gut-wrenching call. But he was on oxygen, on a ventilator at the hospital. But he wanted to call. We were fairly certain it would be his final call. But we are so appreciative of him and his family for keeping us up to date. And for so many of you who have gone to see him, who have sent him texts, who have benefited from his love and commitment to this program.”

Remembering one of our favorite callers in Finebaum Show history, Larry in Shelby: pic.twitter.com/sxZohvgJxp

— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) May 19, 2025

Paul was hardly the only person mourning Wallace’s passing. Longtime fans of the show and people associated with the show have been taking to social media since yesterday to pay tribute to the legendary caller.

“Larry from Shelby made everyone laugh. This call of his with @finebaum & @LauraRutledge will always be my absolute favorite. I still wheeze every time I watch it & I hope it brings folks some joy in a difficult time. Grant Larry eternal rest & let perpetual light shine upon him,” ESPN’s Amanda Brooks wrote, sharing a video of a famous call.

Larry from Shelby made everyone laugh. This call of his with @finebaum & @LauraRutledge will always be my absolute favorite. I still wheeze every time I watch it & I hope it brings folks some joy in a difficult time.

Grant Larry eternal rest & let perpetual light shine upon him. https://t.co/MiePnCSwEn

— Amanda Brooks (@BrooksAD) May 20, 2025

“RIP Larry from Shelby. A great caller… Man and fan,” wrote another.

“Rip Larry from Shelby, my favorite caller,” a third wrote.

“Larry from Shelby was a great caller. I enjoy listening to him when he calls in on the Finebaum show. He will be missed. Prayers to his family…”

Our hearts go out to Larry’s family and loved ones.

Related: Legendary ‘Paul Finebaum Show’ Caller Died On Thursday