Skip to main content

Carlton P. Collins

Hall of Fame

|

Inducted 1958

College

Cornell University

Carlton P. Collins, or Collie, attended Boys High School in Brooklyn, New York, from 1908 to 1911. He was an active member of both the football and lacrosse teams, the latter of which won the PSAL championship in New York City. Collie graduated from St. Paul's School in Garden City in 1911 where he played on an undefeated football team and would have played lacrosse had there been an organized team.

Collie ventured to Cornell University in 1912, where he captained the freshman football team to an undefeated season. With no freshman lacrosse available, Collie had to wait until his sophomore year to earn a letter in lacrosse. He achieved letters in both football and lacrosse in 1914 and 1915. In 1914 and 1916, the lacrosse team won the Northern Division championship, with Collie being the captain of the 1916 team. In 1915, the football team won the National Collegiate championship.

After graduating, Collie joined the Crescent Athletic Club Lacrosse team in Brooklyn. He was recognized as one of the most talented lacrosse players of his day and played for the Crescents from 1920-1929. He began officiating in 1922, and did not hang up his whistle until 1942. In 1932, he organized, financed and coached the lacrosse team at Stamford (Conn.) High School. He became president of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association in 1925 and remained on the executive committee until 1928. It was in the year that Collie was made chairman of the Rules Committee, where he remained until 1941. During his term as chairman, many drastic rule changes were made, including reducing the number of players on each team from 12 to 10.

Collie's loyalty and dedication for the sport of lacrosse is unique in that it spans five decades as a player, coach, official, founder, president and committee chairman of the USILA.