Curly Lambeau
Encyclopedia
Earl Louis "Curly" Lambeau (April 9, 1898 – June 1, 1965) was founder, player, and first coach of the Green Bay Packers
professional American football
team. He shares the distinction with rival George Halas
of the Chicago Bears
of coaching his team to the most NFL championships, with six.
, and captain of its football team as a senior in 1917. Lambeau then played for legendary coach Knute Rockne
at Notre Dame in 1918, making the Irish
's varsity squad as a freshman, but a severe case of tonsillitis forced him to return home before his sophomore year.
formed the Green Bay Packers on August 11, 1919, while Lambeau was working as a shipping clerk at the Indian Packing Company
. The Packers initially played teams from Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula; however, the success of the team in 1919-20 quickly led to its joining of the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing its name to the National Football League in 1922.
, he was both the primary runner and passer, as was common practice during that period; most teams used the single wing offense at the time. Lambeau threw the Packers' first official pass, first official touchdown pass, and kicked the Packers' first official field goal.
, 1930
, 1931
, 1936
, 1939
, 1944
). As Packers' head coach, Lambeau compiled a regular-season record of 209–104–21 (.667 winning percentage) with a playoff record of 3–2 [212–106–21 (.667) overall]. These official records do not include the Packers' 19–2–1 record under Lambeau prior to joining the NFL. Ties did not count in the standings in those days.
In 1946, Lambeau purchased Rockwood Lodge
, creating the first self-contained training facility in professional football. The purchase was controversial among the Packers' board of directors, and Lambeau's deteriorating relationship with the board was one of the factors that would lead to his departure in early 1950. In addition, Lambeau's record as a coach had dropped sharply after Hall of Fame receiver Don Hutson
retired in 1945.
Lambeau died of a heart attack in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
, while visiting a friend.
The Packers'
stadium, Lambeau Field
in Green Bay
, is named after Curly Lambeau. The venue opened in 1957, informally called "New" City Stadium for its first eight years. It was renamed "Lambeau Field" in September 1965
, after Lambeau's death.
Erected after the stadium's 2003 renovation, a 14-foot statue of Lambeau greets visitors.
Lambeau Street, in Green Bay's Packerland Industrial Park, is also named in his honor.
Among other things, Lambeau is credited with pioneering daily practices, the forward pass
in the NFL, implementing pass patterns and flying to road games.
Lambeau was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
in 1961.
Lambeau was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
's inaugural class in 1963
.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
professional American football
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...
team. He shares the distinction with rival George Halas
George Halas
George Stanley Halas, Sr. , nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr. Everything", was a player, coach, owner and pioneer in professional American football. He was the iconic longtime leader of the NFL's Chicago Bears...
of the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of coaching his team to the most NFL championships, with six.
East High School and Notre Dame
Lambeau was a standout multi-sport athlete at Green Bay East High SchoolGreen Bay East High School
Green Bay East High School is a public high school in the Green Bay Area Public School District serving Green Bay, Wisconsin and its surrounding communities . The school's street address is 1415 East Walnut Street.-History:East High School has been located in three buildings over its 150-year history...
, and captain of its football team as a senior in 1917. Lambeau then played for legendary coach Knute Rockne
Knute Rockne
Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
at Notre Dame in 1918, making the Irish
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...
's varsity squad as a freshman, but a severe case of tonsillitis forced him to return home before his sophomore year.
Founding the Packers
Lambeau and George Whitney CalhounGeorge Whitney Calhoun
George Whitney Calhoun was a sports and telegraph editor for the Press-Gazette of Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA. A native of Green Bay, Calhoun was a co-founder of the Green Bay Packers with Curly Lambeau, and was the team's first publicity director.Calhoun wrote The Dope Sheet, which served as the...
formed the Green Bay Packers on August 11, 1919, while Lambeau was working as a shipping clerk at the Indian Packing Company
Indian Packing Company
The Indian Packing Company was a company that was involved in the canned meat industry and that was organized in Delaware on July 22, 1919. Its canned meat sold as "Council Meats." When the company was absorbed by the Illinois-based Acme Packing Company in 1921, it had facilities in Green Bay,...
. The Packers initially played teams from Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula; however, the success of the team in 1919-20 quickly led to its joining of the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing its name to the National Football League in 1922.
Playing career
Lambeau played for the Packers from 1919 to 1929. Although Lambeau played halfbackHalfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
, he was both the primary runner and passer, as was common practice during that period; most teams used the single wing offense at the time. Lambeau threw the Packers' first official pass, first official touchdown pass, and kicked the Packers' first official field goal.
Green Bay Packers
Lambeau coached the Packers as an NFL team from 1921 to 1949. As head coach, he led the Packers to six NFL championships (19291929 NFL season
The 1929 NFL season was the 10th regular season of the National Football League. The league increased back to 12 teams with the addition of Orange Tornadoes and Minneapolis Red Jackets and the re-entry of the Buffalo Bisons...
, 1930
1930 NFL season
The 1930 NFL season was the 11th regular season of the National Football League. Prior to the season, Brooklyn businessmen William B. Dwyer and John C. Depler bought the Dayton Triangles, moved it, and renamed it the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Orange Tornadoes relocated to Newark and the Buffalo Bisons...
, 1931
1931 NFL season
The 1931 NFL season was the 12th regular season of the National Football League. The league decreased to 10 teams due to financial hardships caused by the Great Depression. While the Cleveland Indians joined as an expansion team, the league lost the Minneapolis Red Jackets and the Newark Tornadoes...
, 1936
NFL Championship Game, 1936
The 1936 NFL Championship Game was the 4th championship game played in the history of the National Football League. The game took place on December 13, 1936, at Polo Grounds in New York City, making it the first NFL title game held on a neutral field...
, 1939
NFL Championship Game, 1939
The 1939 National Football League Championship game was held on December 10, 1939 at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This was the seventh NFL championship game played...
, 1944
NFL Championship Game, 1944
The 1944 National Football League Championship Game was the 12th NFL title game. The game was played on December 17, 1944 at New York's Polo Grounds. The attendance for the game was 46,016. The game featured the Green Bay Packers , champions of the Western Division versus the Eastern Division...
). As Packers' head coach, Lambeau compiled a regular-season record of 209–104–21 (.667 winning percentage) with a playoff record of 3–2 [212–106–21 (.667) overall]. These official records do not include the Packers' 19–2–1 record under Lambeau prior to joining the NFL. Ties did not count in the standings in those days.
In 1946, Lambeau purchased Rockwood Lodge
Rockwood Lodge
Rockwood Lodge was the training facility of the Green Bay Packers from 1946 through 1949. It is believed to have been the first self-contained team training facility in pro football history....
, creating the first self-contained training facility in professional football. The purchase was controversial among the Packers' board of directors, and Lambeau's deteriorating relationship with the board was one of the factors that would lead to his departure in early 1950. In addition, Lambeau's record as a coach had dropped sharply after Hall of Fame receiver Don Hutson
Don Hutson
Donald Montgomery Hutson was the first star wide receiver in National Football League history. He is considered by many to have been the first modern receiver....
retired in 1945.
Career record
Lambeau completed his 33-year NFL coaching career with an official overall record of 229–134–22 (.595 winning percentage).Personal life
Lambeau was married three times, first to Marguerite Van Kessel from 1919 ending in divorce with one son in 1934. His second wife Susan Johnson was a former Miss California. They were married from 1935 to 1940. He married Grace Garland in 1945 and was divorced in 1955.Lambeau died of a heart attack in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Sturgeon Bay is a city in and the county seat of Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 9,437 at the 2000 census. It is located at the natural end of Sturgeon Bay, although the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal was built across the remainder of the Door Peninsula.-Geography:Sturgeon Bay is...
, while visiting a friend.
Legacy
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
stadium, Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...
in Green Bay
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, is named after Curly Lambeau. The venue opened in 1957, informally called "New" City Stadium for its first eight years. It was renamed "Lambeau Field" in September 1965
1965 NFL season
The 1965 NFL season was the 46th regular season of the National Football League.Because the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Colts ended up tied in the Western Conference standings after the regular season ended, a conference playoff game was held in Green Bay. Although the Packers had defeated the...
, after Lambeau's death.
Erected after the stadium's 2003 renovation, a 14-foot statue of Lambeau greets visitors.
Lambeau Street, in Green Bay's Packerland Industrial Park, is also named in his honor.
Among other things, Lambeau is credited with pioneering daily practices, the forward pass
Forward pass
In several forms of football a forward pass is when the ball is thrown in the direction that the offensive team is trying to move, towards the defensive team's goal line...
in the NFL, implementing pass patterns and flying to road games.
Lambeau was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame is a promenade in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, dedicated to honoring distinguished members of Wisconsin's sports history. New members are honored at a biennial banquet.-History:...
in 1961.
Lambeau was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
's inaugural class in 1963
1963 in sports
1963 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* January 29 – First inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame are announced* AFL Eastern Division Playoff – Boston Patriots win 26–8 over the Buffalo Bills...
.