Who was Curly Lambeau? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Earl Louis Lambeau

Died At Age: 67

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Grace Garland (m. 1945–1955), Marguerite Van Kessel (m. 1919–1934), Susan Johnson (m. 1935–1940)

father: Marcelin Lambeau

mother: Mary LaTour

children: Donald Lambeau, Earl Louis Lambeau II

Born Country: United States

Coaches American Football Players

Height: 5'10" (178 cm), 5'10" Males

Died on: June 1, 1965

place of death: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, United States

U.S. State: Wisconsin

Cause of Death: Heart Attack

More Facts

education: University Of Notre Dame

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Childhood & Early Life

Earl Louis "Curly" Lambeau was born on April 9, 1898, to Mary Lambeau (nee LaTour) and Marcelin Lambeau in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

He graduated from the 'Green Bay East High School,' where he was recognized for his excellent talent in sports, especially football.

He was part of his school's football team for 4 years and served as its captain in his final year (1917).

After completing high school, he worked with his father in their construction business. However, he continued to play with several local teams.

He joined the 'University of Notre Dame du Lac' in 1918 and played for the university team. However, due to severe tonsillitis, he dropped out of both the team and the college in the spring of 1919.

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Founding of the ï¿½

Lambeau and Calhoun formed the team 'Green Bay Packers' on August 11, 1919.

The team's uniform and equipment were initially sponsored by 'The Indian Packing Company,' a meatpacking company. Hence, the team got the name 'Packers.'

During its first 2 years, the team played against the semipro teams of Wisconsin and Michigan. Following this, upon Lambeau's insistence, the team's management applied for the membership of the 'American Professional Football Association,' which is now called 'National Football League' (NFL).

Playing-Coaching Career

Lambeau represented the team as a player-captain in its first year. In the later years, until his retirement as a player, he served as a player-coach.

He played for 10 seasons, including the first two seasons of semipro leagues and eight seasons of the professional league.

He played as a halfback in the single-wing formation, a popular offensive formation of the period.

He accounted for 35 touchdowns, which included 24 passes, 8 rushes, and 3 catches.

Lambeau became the first ‘Packer’ to throw a pass, to throw a touchdown pass, and to score a field goal.

He sometimes took up the role of a kicker. He scored 6 field goals and 20 extra points.

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In 1929, his last season as a player-coach, he won the first and the only 'NFL Championship.'

Coaching Career

Lambeau relinquished his role as a player-coach in 1929 and took over as the coach of the team.

The 1930s belonged to the ‘Packers.’ Followed by their victory in 1929, they went on to win the championship in the next 2 years, too.

He became the first ‘NFL’ coach to win three championships in a row.

In 1934, the ‘Packers’ came close to winning their fourth consecutive championship. However, they had to remain happy with their 7-6-0 record.

The succeeding seasons of 1933 and 1934 were not too great for Lambeau and his team.

However, in the season that followed, Lambeau built another formidable team by bringing some of the future legendary athletes. The effort bore fruits in 1936, as the ‘Packers’ won the league again.

In 1938, the 'New York Giants' defeated Lambeau's team in the deciding game, which deprived the ‘Packers’ of the title. In the following season, the ‘Packers’ avenged the previous season's loss by crushing the ‘Giants’ with a score of 27–0 and earned their fifth championship.

As a coach, Lambeau won his final and sixth championship in 1944.

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Lambeau's purchase of 'Rockwood Lodge' in 1946 and its renovation to suit the requirements of a training facility at an exorbitant price led to a controversy and eventually heralded a dark period for him and the team.

He quit as the coach of the ‘Packers’ in 1950, with an overall record of 212–106–21 (Win-Loss-Tie).

He joined the 'Chicago Cardinals' as their head coach and took on the additional responsibility of the vice president with full autonomy. He served in this role for two seasons, 1950 and 1951, but failed to make a mark.

For the 1952 and 1953 seasons, he signed up with the 'Washington Redskins.' In August 1954, his serious confrontation with the owner of the team got him dismissed from his job.

His career record was 229–134–22.

Family, Personal Life, & Death

Lambeau was married thrice. In 1919, he married Marguerite Van Kessel. They had a son but got divorced in 1934.

In 1935, he married Susan Johnson. The relationship lasted for 5 years.

In 1945, he married Grace Garland. The marriage ended in a divorce in 1955.

On June 1, 1965, while waiting for his girlfriend Mary Jane Van Duyseto go on a date with her, Lambeau was helping her father cut grass at her home. Suddenly, he collapsed from a heart attack and died. He was 67 at the time of his death.

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Honors & Legacy

He made it to the ‘NFL's ‘1920s All-Decade Team.’

In 1961, he was inducted into the 'Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame.'

He was honored as a member of the inaugural class of the 'Pro Football Hall of Fame' in 1963.

Two months after his death in 1965, the city's stadium was named 'Lambeau Field,' as a tribute to Lambeau's contribution to football in general and to the 'Green Bay Packers' in particular. It is presently the team's home stadium.

In 1970, he was posthumously chosen to be part of the inaugural class of the 'Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.'

A 14-foot statue of Lambeau was installed before the new atrium entrance of the 'Lambeau Field' after its renovation in 2003.

A street in Green Bay's ‘Packerland Industrial Park’ was named Lambeau Street in his honor.

Trivia

According to unconfirmed sources, Lambeau wanted to name his team 'The Green Bay Indians' to honor his commitment to its original sponsors, 'The Indian Packing Company.' However, upon a casual suggestion of his girlfriend, he named it the 'Green Bay Packers.'

Between 1919 and 1921, he coached the football team of his alma mater, the ‘Green Bay East High School.’

Curly Lambeau Biography