Larry Berke graduated from Bethany Lutheran College in 1962. During his two years at Bethany, Berke compiled an impressive basketball record. In the 1960-61 season, he was named to the Blue Waters Classic All-Tournament Team and was voted Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Berke was also a member of the Region XIII All-Tournament Team and received Honorable Mention as an NJCAA All-American. That year, he averaged 21 points per game. The following year, Berke was again a member of the Blue Waters Classic All-Tournament Team, was named NJCAA Second Team All-American, and was voted to the NJCAA National Championship All-Tournament Team. During his sophomore year, Berek averaged 24 points and 18 rebounds per game, and was the second highest scorer in the NJCAA Tournament with 120 points over four games. In his two seasons, the Vikings took Conference Champions in 1961 and 1962, Region XIII Champions both years, and appeared in the National Junior College Tournament finishing 13th in 1961 and 8th in 1962.
Berke attended Tulsa University after Bethany where he has also served on the Alumni Board. While at Tulsa, he lettered in basketball in 1963 and 1964 and received Honorable Mention All-Missouri Valley Conference in 1963. He has been inducted into the Minnesota Junior College Hall of Fame.
Today, Berke is president and owner of Royal Travel and Tours, Inc. which is the largest independent travel agency in north central Illinois with locations in DeKalb, Sycamore, Rochelle and St. Charles. The agency has received numerous awards for excellence within the travel industry. More recently, it has been recognized as one of the top 50 American Express agencies nationwide seven years in succession.
Berke has served on the United Airlines National Advisory Board, the American Express National Steering Committee, the Canadian Tourism Commission Travel Agent Advisory Board, the Chicago Skal Club Board of Directors (presently president elect), is the chairman of the Ben Gordon Center Foundation Executive Board, is a Paul Harris Fellow in the Sycamore Rotary Club, and a member of the Ambassadors Club of the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce.
In 1964, Berke married Kay Miller, his junior high sweetheart. The Berkes live in DeKalb, Illinois, and have three children; Jeff, Andrew and Kendra.
