Larry Schnoor was born in 1935 in Wells, Minnesota. After graduating from high school in 1953, Schnoor went to Mankato State Teacher’s College for a few months before enlisting in the Navy where he served for four years. He returned to Mankato State College where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Social Studies in 1960. He received a Master of Science degree in 1964 from Mankato State College. In the same year, he was hired as an Instructor at Mankato State College where he taught until his retirement as an Associate Professor in 1991. While he was a teacher at the College and University, he also served as a forensics and debate coach, including being director of the team for many years. He further gave his time to state and national forensics and debate organizations including the American Forensics Association, National Forensics Association and Communication and Theatre Association of Minnesota.