 Joe
Lawson
1987 Greater Flint
Afro-American Hall of Fame Inductee
Category: MULTIPLE SPORTS
Wife: Anna Mae
Daughters: Betty, Joanne, Glenda, Jimmie
The Lawson family came to Flint in 1919 from South Carolina.
Joe, a quiet and lean youngster who possessed a lot of natural ability,
was a true lover of sports. He played on the great Yellow Dogs Softball
Championship team of 1936 and later with other teams in the area.
In 1937 and 1938 he was a two-sport star at Northern High School in
football and track. He was an outstanding two way football player at
the positions of safety on defense and right halfback on offense. Joe
was noted for making great tackles and pass interceptions at crucial
times.
His coach, the late Guy Houston, and opposing coaches paid Lawson
high compliments. Dedication, reliability and consistency were his
trademark throughout his entire sports career.
Most of his many touchdown runs were 30 yards or more. He had the
record at Northern for the longest run from the line of scrimmage which
was 87 yards; scored two touchdowns and passed for a third in the traditional
Thanksgiving Day football game, Northern vs Central in 1938. Northern
became City, Saginaw Valley and State Champions that same year (1938)
and Lawson was selected as the Saginaw Valley All-Star right halfback.
In the 1937-38 city track meet, he was Northern's most outstanding
track man. He set six records in the 100 yard dash, 10.2 seconds and
the 220 yard dash 23.1 seconds. At Dort Field he set records in the
100 yard dash, 10.2 seconds and 220 yard dash, 23.1 seconds. On Northern's
field he set records of 10.1 seconds in the 100 yard dash and 22.25
seconds in the 220 yard dash. In 1938 Lawson scored the most points
in a track season at Northern. He was also rated as one of the top
three sprinters in the State in 1937 and 1938.
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