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<p>As a kid, Larry Cook had a habit his parents wanted to encourage.</p><p>Cook had an interest in collecting presidential memorabilia and, as he was growing up, his parents bought him items to add to that collection.</p><p>It&#8217;s a collection that never stopped.</p><p>Today, Cook&#8217;s collection includes more than 5,000 pieces of presidential memorabilia, displayed throughout two rooms in his house. It includes letters signed by past presidents, campaign cards, posters, photographs, pins and more.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a thrill every time I walk into the rooms and hold a piece. I&#8217;m holding history in my hands,&#8221; Cook said.</p><p>Earlier this month, Cook brought a portion of his collection for a presentation to members of the Stanley Cooper Sr. Chapter of Trout Unlimited. With so many pieces in his collection, Cook was able to customize the presentation to chapter members, all anglers. The topic? Presidents who were avid fishermen, of course.</p><p>Cook, who resides in Dallas, said 13 of the 43 presidents were anglers, and he brought pieces of memorabilia from each to share with chapter members. The oldest piece was a campaign card from Martin Van Buren, the eighth president who served in office from 1837-1841. The card is unique in that it has a tab that, when pulled, changes the smile on Van Buren&#8217;s face to a frown.</p><p>The card is among Cook&#8217;s oldest pieces, and he said memorabilia from that timeframe is hard to find.</p><p>&#8220;The earlier items from Lincoln and prior are especially difficult to obtain,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But every day, I&#8217;m surprised what&#8217;s out there.&#8221;</p><p>Among Cook&#8217;s most prized pieces, and one he brought to the presentation, is a pair of letters signed by Theodore Roosevelt. While anything signed by Roosevelt, who was president from 1901-1909, is a rarity, the story behind the letters makes them even more memorable.</p><p>Cook received a call one day from a woman who knew about his interest in presidential memorabilia. She said she had a letter signed by Roosevelt, and Cook went to see it.</p><p>&#8220;She brought down this old picture frame with warped cardboard on the back and the letter inside. Behind it, I could see the corner of another paper, and we removed it and it was a second letter signed by Roosevelt,&#8221; Cook said. &#8220;She gave them to me because she knew it would be appreciated, and I&#8217;m very humbled and honored by that.&#8221;</p><p>When it comes to collecting items from more recent presidents, Cook has a pretty good source. His close friendship with former president Jimmy Carter has allowed him to add many items to his collection directly from the country&#8217;s 39th president.</p><p>Through that friendship, Cook has also obtained items from other presidents, such as an autographed inauguration bag from Barack Obama.</p><p>Cook&#8217;s connection with Carter has also led to many interesting stories, as well, like the time Carter met with Russian president Vladimir Putin.</p><p>&#8220;(Carter) stayed at our house last April and told us he was meeting Putin in a few weeks,&#8221; Cook said. &#8220;I asked him how do you meet a person like that, and he said he wrote him letters twice but didn&#8217;t get a response.</p><p>&#8220;Later, Carter went fishing in northwest Russia and sent Putin another letter about how good the fishing was and encouraging Putin to make sure the area stays that way. Putin responded to that letter and they met.&#8221;</p><p>Whether it&#8217;s a VanBuren campaign card from the early 1800s or an inauguration bag from Obama, Cook cherishes each piece in his collection and enjoys the opportunity to share it with others.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re all custodians of history and I&#8217;m happy to pass along the things I&#8217;ve learned about our presidents,&#8221; Cook said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">A section of Larry Cook&#8217;s presidential memorabilia collection is dedicated to his friend and former president Jimmy Carter. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012816collection.cp2_.jpg</photo0><caption0>A section of Larry Cook&#8217;s presidential memorabilia collection is dedicated to his friend and former president Jimmy Carter. </caption0><photoCredit0>Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012816collection.cp3_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Larry Cook collects presidential memorabilia. Shown is just a part of his collection. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012816collection.cp3_.jpg</photo1><caption1>Larry Cook collects presidential memorabilia. Shown is just a part of his collection. </caption1><photoCredit1>Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012816collection.cp1_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Larry Cook holds a bust of Theodore Roosevelt, just one piece of his rather large collection of presidential memorabilia. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012816collection.cp1_.jpg</photo2><caption2>Larry Cook holds a bust of Theodore Roosevelt, just one piece of his rather large collection of presidential memorabilia. </caption2><photoCredit2>Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Venesky</p><p>tvenesky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Larry Cook has a collection of presidential proportions