Larry Winn, Jr. was born August 22, 1919 and grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, earning a journalism degree from the University of Kansas in 1941. During his undergraduate career he served as sports editor for the University Daily Kansan.

Winn worked as an announcer for WHB radio for two years after graduation. During World War II, he worked in a B-25 bomber factory in Kansas City, KS. Thereafter he worked in his family's homebuilding business and served as Vice President of Winn-Rau Corporation for several years. Winn also served as national director of the National Association of Home Builders for 14 years and was a president of the Home Builders Association of Kansas.

In 1966 Winn was elected as a United States House of Representatives member to the 90th Congress. He retained his seat for the next 8 Congresses, deciding not to seek re-election after finishing his last term on January 3, 1985.

During his Congressional terms, Winn served on the House's Foreign Relations Committee, as well as the Science and Technology Committee and the District of Columbia Committee. He was also a congressional ambassador to the United Nations in 1977.

Larry Winn married Joan Elliott after meeting her while studying at KU. Together they had 5 children: Larry Winn III, Douglas, Janet, Cynthia, and Robert. Winn's wife Joan died in 2015 after 73 years of marriage. Larry Winn, Jr. died December 31, 2017.