Janet Condra: The Story Behind Larry Bird’s First Marriage
A closer look at her early relationship with basketball legend Larry Bird, their short marriage, daughter Corrie, and the family history documented in public records.
Introduction
Janet Condra is known for one connection. She was Larry Bird’s first wife. Their relationship started long before NBA fame.
The couple were childhood sweethearts. They married in November 1975. Their marriage ended the following year.
But their story continued.
They later welcomed a daughter, Corrie Bird. She was born in August 1977.
Larry became a basketball legend. His former wife’s life remained less public. Still, their early relationship remains part of his personal history.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Janet Condra |
| Known For | Larry Bird’s first wife |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Springs Valley High School |
| Former Husband | Larry Bird |
| Wedding Date | November 8, 1975 |
| Divorce Date | October 31, 1976 |
| Daughter | Corrie Bird |
| Daughter’s Birth Date | August 14, 1977 |
| Daughter’s Birthplace | Brazil, Indiana, USA |
| Television Credit | ESPN SportsCentury (1999) |
Early Life and Education
Her early story begins in Indiana.
Janet knew Larry Bird during childhood. They grew up knowing each other. Their connection developed long before his fame.
Published sports biographies identify them as classmates. Both attended Springs Valley High School. Their relationship later became romantic.
They were young sweethearts.
At that time, Larry loved basketball. He was building his playing career. His future NBA success was years away.
Their relationship belonged to his early life. It began before national sports attention.
How Did She Meet Larry Bird?
The couple shared a childhood connection.
They knew each other before adulthood. Their school years brought them together. That friendship developed into a romantic relationship.
Larry was from southern Indiana. He attended Springs Valley High School. Basketball was already important to him.
Janet was part of those years.
They continued their relationship into young adulthood. In 1975, they decided to marry.
Their wedding came before Larry’s NBA career. He was then attending Indiana State University.
A Short Marriage in 1975
Their wedding took place on November 8, 1975.
Larry was still a college student. His professional basketball career had not started. The couple entered marriage at a young age.
But the relationship did not last.
Their divorce was recorded on October 31, 1976. They had been married for less than one year.
Why did they separate?
Published biographies confirm the divorce. However, their private relationship was more complicated.
Larry later discussed the marriage in accounts of his life. He recognised that they were different people. Their relationship did not become a lasting marriage.
The exact circumstances remain personal.
What Happened After the Divorce?
The marriage ended in 1976.
Yet the relationship had another chapter.
Biographical accounts describe an attempted reconciliation. Janet and Larry tried reconnecting after separating.
The marriage was not restored.
However, they became parents in 1977. Their daughter, Corrie, was born that August.
This family connection continued after their divorce.
Her Daughter Corrie Bird
Corrie Bird was born on August 14, 1977, in Brazil, Indiana.
She is the daughter of Janet Condra and Larry Bird.
Her childhood attracted media interest. That attention largely concerned her famous father.
But she grew up with her mother.
A 1992 edition of Biography Today documented this. It reported that Corrie lived in Indiana with Janet.
At that time, Corrie was 14.
Their family situation differed from Larry’s public life. He was a major NBA star. His basketball career drew national attention.
Meanwhile, Corrie lived with her mother.
This part of their story matters. It provides a documented view of Janet’s family life.
Larry Bird’s Relationship With Corrie
Their father-daughter relationship faced early difficulties.
Larry was not consistently involved during Corrie’s childhood. Sports reporting later discussed that distance.
He publicly addressed their relationship.
Bird acknowledged that he had missed important years. He also praised Janet’s work raising Corrie.
That acknowledgement appeared in later sports coverage.
The subject drew public interest. Still, it concerned a real family.
The available record supports the basic history. It does not explain every private conversation.
Who Is Larry Bird?
Larry Bird is a former American basketball player.
He became famous with the Boston Celtics. His NBA career began in 1979.
His achievements were remarkable.
He won three NBA championships. He also earned three regular-season MVP awards.
Fans knew him as Larry Legend.
His basketball career made him internationally famous. He later worked in coaching and management.
In 1989, he married Dinah Mattingly. They later adopted two children, Conner and Mariah.
Janet’s marriage happened much earlier.
She knew Larry before those championships. Their relationship belonged to his life before professional basketball fame.
Her Life After the Marriage
Public information becomes limited after 1976.
Most published accounts discuss the marriage. Others focus on daughter Corrie’s childhood.
Her later professional life has received little documented attention.
That creates an important distinction.
Being connected to a celebrity does not make every personal detail public. Reliable biographies should respect that difference.
The strongest records concern her family history. They do not establish a detailed account of her later career or personal circumstances.
Her Television Appearance
One lesser-known detail appears on IMDb.
Janet is credited in ESPN SportsCentury.
The sports documentary series featured Larry Bird. Her listing records an appearance as herself in 1999.
That is a public television credit.
However, one documentary appearance does not establish an entertainment career.
It does show that her name appeared in televised coverage of Bird’s life.
Important Events in Her Life
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| Before 1975 | Childhood relationship with Larry Bird |
| 1975 | Married Larry Bird in November |
| 1976 | Marriage ended in divorce |
| 1977 | Daughter Corrie Bird was born |
| 1992 | Biography Today documented Corrie living with Janet |
| 1999 | Credited in ESPN SportsCentury |
Why Does Her Story Still Interest People?
Larry Bird remains a basketball icon.
His sports achievements are well documented. Fans also read about his personal history.
That interest includes his first marriage.
Janet knew him before professional fame. She was part of his younger years. Their daughter also connects their family histories.
But there is another distinction.
His career became very public. Her personal history remained much less documented.
Understanding that difference helps readers separate established facts from repeated online claims.
The marriage was brief. Their family connection continued beyond it.
Final Thought
Janet Condra’s public story begins before NBA fame.
She knew Larry Bird during childhood. They married in 1975. Their relationship ended in divorce the following year.
Their daughter Corrie was born in 1977.
Larry later became a basketball legend. Janet remained connected to his family history.
The documented facts tell a meaningful story. There is no need to invent the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is Janet Condra?
She is Larry Bird’s first wife. They married in November 1975. Their marriage ended in 1976.
2. When did she marry Larry Bird?
They married on November 8, 1975. Their marriage lasted less than one year.
3. When did the couple divorce?
They divorced on October 31, 1976. The date appears in IMDb’s biographical record.
4. Did she attend school with Larry Bird?
Yes. Published sports biographies identify them as classmates at Springs Valley High School.
5. Does she have a daughter with Larry Bird?
Yes. Their daughter is Corrie Bird. She was born in August 1977.
6. When was Corrie Bird born?
Corrie was born on August 14, 1977. Her birthplace is listed as Brazil, Indiana.
7. Did the couple try getting back together?
Yes. Published biographies describe an attempted reconciliation. Their marriage was not restored.
8. Did Janet appear on television?
IMDb credits her in ESPN SportsCentury. The listed appearance dates to 1999.
9. Who did Larry Bird marry after Janet?
He married Dinah Mattingly in 1989. They later adopted Conner and Mariah.
Sources and Fact-Checking
The information in this article was checked against the following publications and records:
- Biography.com: Larry Bird’s marriage and family history.
- Encyclopedia.com: His early life, marriage and reconciliation.
- IMDb: Marriage dates, daughter Corrie’s birth and documentary credits.
- Sportscasting: The couple’s school connection and early relationship.
- Biography Today (January 1992): Historical reporting about Corrie’s childhood.
- Basketball Network: Reporting on Larry Bird’s relationship with Corrie.
