Larry was born and raised in Seattle, Washington with his two sisters, Sarah and Anne. His parents Margery and the late John Phillips instilled in him a love for learning and an active interest in his community. His father was an architect and United States Naval Officer, serving in the Pacific in WWII, and his mother wrote for the Seattle Times and began their "Home of the Month" feature, called "Northwest Living." He grew up in Mount Baker and Magnolia, where he still lives with his family. Larry and his wife Gail sent their son Brett off to college in the fall of 2004.

Larry attended Queen Anne High School and the University of Washington. He also earned a Juris Doctor degree from Willamette University College of Law in 1976, graduating with honors and finishing in the top ten percent of his class.

Public Service
Larry first entered public service in 1977 when he moved to Washington, D.C. to work for Senator Henry M. "Scoop"Jackson. His primary staffing responsibilities were labor and tax issues.