POTSDAM – Jack Lawrence, a Madrid native and long-time resident of Canton, was inducted into the SUNY Potsdam Hall of Fame during SUNY Potsdam Athletics Alumni Weekend held Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.

The 95-year-old played four seasons with the then "Racquetteers" baseball team and three with the men's basketball squad under coach Sam Molnar, the future Potsdam Athletic Director and Hall of Famer.

A member of Potsdam's first intercollegiate baseball team, the center fielder and pitcher helped Potsdam to a 27-13 record over the 1949, 1950, 1953 and 1954 seasons. Lawrence hit .302 and was 4-1 on the mound for the Racquetteers in 1950. He batted .404 for Potsdam in 1954.

As a guard on the hardwood, he averaged nearly nine points-per-game for Potsdam during the 1948-49 and 1949-50 campaigns. After missing the next two seasons to military service, Lawrence returned to play for the basketball team in 1952-53. In 36 career games in three years, he scored 245 points and helped Potsdam to a 26-22 mark.

After graduation in 1954, Lawrence developed an extensive career in construction. He was involved in over 300 projects in the North Country and New England. Lawrence served as a project manager for the St. Lawrence Seaway and also took part in the construction of St. Lawrence University's Appleton Arena. Lawrence was superintendent of SLU's Augsbury Physical Education Center and the 1980 Olympic Arena in Lake Placid.

He has also been a longtime coach and is a lifelong golfer.

This information was extracted from a post on the SUNY Potsdam website.

Read more about Jack Lawrence, his collegiate, professional and private life at https://potsdambears.com/news/2023/9/28/lawrence_hof092823.aspx?utm_medium=sidearm-email&utm_source=potsdambears.com&utm_campaign=SUNY+Potsdam+Athletics%3a+Hall+of+Fame+Inductee%3a+John+%e2%80%9cJack%e2%80%9d+Lawrence+%e2%80%9954&utm_content=5d2dd309-1937-44dd-9156-68f76d1a36ee