Edward Lauer
Encyclopedia
Edward H. Lauer was an athletic director
for the University of Iowa
from 1929-1934. He was the fourth athletic director in school history, and he guided the athletic department through a one month Big Ten
suspension from athletic competition and the first few years of the Great Depression
.
in 1916. He was named a professor at the University of Iowa
in 1921. In 1927, Lauer was named director of Iowa’s Extension Division.
, Iowa’s athletic director, abruptly resigned at the end of his five year contract on April 26, 1929. University president Walter Jessup appointed Edward Lauer to become the fourth athletic director in school history on May 7, 1929, and Lauer agreed to take over the duties of athletic director on June 1, 1929. On May 25, Lauer attended his first Big Ten meeting of athletic directors in Chicago, Illinois. At that meeting, Lauer was told that Iowa would be suspended from Big Ten athletic competition on January 1, 1930, due to alleged recruiting violations.
Lauer, who had no known connection to any of the alleged violations, began a long process to get Iowa’s athletic department reinstated. He attended a Big Ten meeting in December 1929, where Iowa’s request for reinstatement was denied. Finally, on February 1, 1930, the suspension of Iowa’s athletic department was rescinded by the Big Ten.
, to succeed him. Lauer took a job with the University of Washington
, where he was named dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
for the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
from 1929-1934. He was the fourth athletic director in school history, and he guided the athletic department through a one month Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
suspension from athletic competition and the first few years of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
Background
Edward Lauer graduated from 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 1916. He was named a professor at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in 1921. In 1927, Lauer was named director of Iowa’s Extension Division.
Athletic director
Paul BeltingPaul Belting
Paul E. Belting was an athletic director for the University of Iowa from 1924-1929. He was the third athletic director in school history, and he oversaw the construction of the Iowa Field House in 1927 and Iowa Stadium in 1929....
, Iowa’s athletic director, abruptly resigned at the end of his five year contract on April 26, 1929. University president Walter Jessup appointed Edward Lauer to become the fourth athletic director in school history on May 7, 1929, and Lauer agreed to take over the duties of athletic director on June 1, 1929. On May 25, Lauer attended his first Big Ten meeting of athletic directors in Chicago, Illinois. At that meeting, Lauer was told that Iowa would be suspended from Big Ten athletic competition on January 1, 1930, due to alleged recruiting violations.
Lauer, who had no known connection to any of the alleged violations, began a long process to get Iowa’s athletic department reinstated. He attended a Big Ten meeting in December 1929, where Iowa’s request for reinstatement was denied. Finally, on February 1, 1930, the suspension of Iowa’s athletic department was rescinded by the Big Ten.
Departure
After five years as Iowa’s athletic director, Lauer resigned in June 1934. Iowa named their football coach, Ossie SolemOssie Solem
Oscar Martin "Ossie" Solem was an American football player and coach of football and basketball in the United States...
, to succeed him. Lauer took a job with the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, where he was named dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.