James E. Lawrence
Encyclopedia
James Edmund Lawrence was an American football
player. He played college football
for the 1902 Michigan Wolverines football team
that compiled an 11–0 record and outscored opponents 644 to 12. He scored 113 points for the 1902 Michigan team, a figure which ranked among the five highest single-season point totals in Michigan history until 1940 and which still ranks among the top 10 scoring seasons by a Michigan player. In an October 8, 1902 game against Michigan Agricultural College (now known as Michigan State University
), Lawrence set a Michigan record by converting 19 of 20 point after touchdown kicks. At the time of his death, The New York Times
noted that Lawrence was "considered the greatest place-kicker the University of Michigan ever had."
. Lawrence had an older brother Don (b. Sept. 1874) and two older sisters Harriet (b. Nov. 1876) and Grace (b. June 1879). At the time of the 1900 Census, Lawrence's aunt, Josephine Kitchen, and a servant, Charlotte Brook, also lived with the family.
Lawrence attended Ypsilanti High School
where he played four years of football, two years at the tackle
position and two years at the fullback
position. According to one account, "At both places he was a whole team in himself."
in 1902. As a freshman, he participated in tryouts for the football team held at Whitmore Lake, Michigan
. Lawrence was six feet and one-half inches tall and weighed 187 pounds. Michigan's head coach Fielding H. Yost recognized that Lawrence had "the weight, speed, and nerve of a valuable man" and "all the qualities of a fullback".
The 1902 Michigan Wolverines football team
won all 11 of its games and outscored opponents by a combined score of 644 to 12. Lawrence appeared in 10 of the 11 games played by the team, missing only the Notre Dame
game. He was the starting fullback in three games and appeared in other games at the tackle and guard
positions. In 10 games for the 1902 Wolverines, Lawrence scored 113 points on 12 touchdowns (scored as five points under 1902 rules) and 53 point after touchdown ("PAT) conversions. Lawrence's 1902 point total ranked among the five highest single-season point totals in Michigan history until 1940 and still ranks among the top 10 scoring seasons by a Michigan player. In an October 8, 1902 game against Michigan Agricultural College (now known as Michigan State University
), Lawrence set a Michigan record by converting 19 of 20 point after touchdown ("PAT") kicks.
Lawrence's game-by-game point totals were as follows:
While Lawrence made a name for himself due to his scoring, he was also a valuable contributor on defense: "On defense he used his weight to a great advantage in breaking up interference and in supporting the line."
At the time of his death 39 years later, The New York Times
noted that he was "considered the greatest place-kicker the University of Michigan ever had".
with his wife Nellie E. Lawrence. His occupation was listed as a draftsman in a factory.
In a draft registration card completed in September 1918, Lawrence indicated that he was living in Highland Park, Michigan
, and employed by McCormack & Lawrence at the Free Press Building in Detroit.
At the time of the 1920 United States Census, Lawrence was living in Highland Park with his wife Nellie and their nine-year-old son Robert. His occupation was listed as the secretary of a real estate company.
By the time of the 1930 United States Census, Lawrence had moved to Los Angeles, California
. He was living at 261 West Second Street with his wife Nellie S. Lawrence and their 19-year-old son Robert S. Lawrence. His occupation was listed at that time as a real estate broker.
Lawrence died in Los Angeles in May 1941 at age 58.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the 1902 Michigan Wolverines football team
1902 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1902 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1902 college football season. In their second year under head coach Fielding H. Yost, Michigan finished the season undefeated with an 11–0 record, outscored their opponents by a combined score of 644 to...
that compiled an 11–0 record and outscored opponents 644 to 12. He scored 113 points for the 1902 Michigan team, a figure which ranked among the five highest single-season point totals in Michigan history until 1940 and which still ranks among the top 10 scoring seasons by a Michigan player. In an October 8, 1902 game against Michigan Agricultural College (now known as Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
), Lawrence set a Michigan record by converting 19 of 20 point after touchdown kicks. At the time of his death, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
noted that Lawrence was "considered the greatest place-kicker the University of Michigan ever had."
Early years
Lawrence was born in October 1882. His father, Marion Lawrence, was a Michigan native who was identified in the 1900 United States Census as a "capitalist" in Ypsilanti, MichiganYpsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of Ypsilanti...
. Lawrence had an older brother Don (b. Sept. 1874) and two older sisters Harriet (b. Nov. 1876) and Grace (b. June 1879). At the time of the 1900 Census, Lawrence's aunt, Josephine Kitchen, and a servant, Charlotte Brook, also lived with the family.
Lawrence attended Ypsilanti High School
Ypsilanti High School
Ypsilanti High School is a public school located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and is the second such building to operate under the name. The current facility, built in 1974, was remodeled between 1998 and 1999, as part of a district-wide remodeling effort funded by a bond measure...
where he played four years of football, two years at the tackle
Tackle (American football)
Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions....
position and two years at the fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
position. According to one account, "At both places he was a whole team in himself."
University of Michigan
Lawrence enrolled in the engineering department at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1902. As a freshman, he participated in tryouts for the football team held at Whitmore Lake, Michigan
Whitmore Lake, Michigan
Whitmore Lake is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan. The community spans the boundary between Green Oak Township in Livingston County and Northfield Township in Washtenaw County. The United States Census Bureau has defined a census-designated place with this name for...
. Lawrence was six feet and one-half inches tall and weighed 187 pounds. Michigan's head coach Fielding H. Yost recognized that Lawrence had "the weight, speed, and nerve of a valuable man" and "all the qualities of a fullback".
The 1902 Michigan Wolverines football team
1902 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1902 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1902 college football season. In their second year under head coach Fielding H. Yost, Michigan finished the season undefeated with an 11–0 record, outscored their opponents by a combined score of 644 to...
won all 11 of its games and outscored opponents by a combined score of 644 to 12. Lawrence appeared in 10 of the 11 games played by the team, missing only the Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
game. He was the starting fullback in three games and appeared in other games at the tackle and guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
positions. In 10 games for the 1902 Wolverines, Lawrence scored 113 points on 12 touchdowns (scored as five points under 1902 rules) and 53 point after touchdown ("PAT) conversions. Lawrence's 1902 point total ranked among the five highest single-season point totals in Michigan history until 1940 and still ranks among the top 10 scoring seasons by a Michigan player. In an October 8, 1902 game against Michigan Agricultural College (now known as Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
), Lawrence set a Michigan record by converting 19 of 20 point after touchdown ("PAT") kicks.
Lawrence's game-by-game point totals were as follows:
- September 27, 1902: 6 points on 6 PAT kicks against Albion College
- October 4, 1902: 13 points on 1 touchdown and 8 PAT kicks against Case Scientific School
- October 8, 1902: 19 points on 19 PAT kicks against Michigan AgriculturalMichigan State Spartans footballThe Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
- October 11, 1902: 29 points on 4 touchdowns and 9 PAT kicks against IndianaIndiana Hoosiers footballThe Indiana Hoosiers football program represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and in the Big Ten Conference.-Bowl games:...
- October 25, 1902: 17 points on 2 touchdowns and 7 PAT kicks against Ohio StateOhio State Buckeyes footballThe Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
- November 1, 1902: 0 points against WisconsinWisconsin Badgers footballThe Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
- November 8, 1902: 19 points on 3 touchdowns and 4 PAT kicks against IowaIowa Hawkeyes footballThe Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
- November 15, 1902: 0 points against the University of ChicagoChicago Maroons footballThe Chicago Maroons are the college football team representing the University of Chicago. The Maroons play in NCAA Division III as a member of the University Athletic Association. From 1892 to 1939, the Maroons were a major college football power...
- November 22, 1902: 10 points on 2 touchdowns against Oberlin CollegeOberlin CollegeOberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
- November 27, 1902: 0 points against MinnesotaMinnesota Golden Gophers footballThe University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
While Lawrence made a name for himself due to his scoring, he was also a valuable contributor on defense: "On defense he used his weight to a great advantage in breaking up interference and in supporting the line."
At the time of his death 39 years later, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
noted that he was "considered the greatest place-kicker the University of Michigan ever had".
Later years
At the time of the 1910 United States Census, Lawrence was living in Pontiac, MichiganPontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
with his wife Nellie E. Lawrence. His occupation was listed as a draftsman in a factory.
In a draft registration card completed in September 1918, Lawrence indicated that he was living in Highland Park, Michigan
Highland Park, Michigan
- Geography :According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 16,746 people, 6,199 households, and 3,521 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,622.9 per square mile . There were 7,249...
, and employed by McCormack & Lawrence at the Free Press Building in Detroit.
At the time of the 1920 United States Census, Lawrence was living in Highland Park with his wife Nellie and their nine-year-old son Robert. His occupation was listed as the secretary of a real estate company.
By the time of the 1930 United States Census, Lawrence had moved to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He was living at 261 West Second Street with his wife Nellie S. Lawrence and their 19-year-old son Robert S. Lawrence. His occupation was listed at that time as a real estate broker.
Lawrence died in Los Angeles in May 1941 at age 58.