William H. Lane (1979) - Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame

William H. Lane

Induction:
1979
Class:
1945

Sports: Football, Baseball, Basketball, Baseball Coach
Bill Lane was the last Bucknell man to captain three different teams, when he skippered the football, basketball and baseball teams in 1938-39. He played quarterback, guard and left field, respectively, and was an inductee in the inaugural Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979. Lane captained the football squad that finished 5-3 an defeated Penn State, the basketball team that played the very first game in Davis Gymnasium, and the diamond squad that played in Baseball Centennial Game at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Drafted by the Cleveland Rams, Lane starred in the early 1940s with the Wilmington Clippers of the Eastern Football League. He returned to Bucknell in 1947 as varsity baseball coach, a post he filled ably until 1957. During that term of service at Bucknell, Lane was also coach of the freshman football and basketball teams, and he even coached the varsity soccer team for a season. Though he left the University in 1957, he did not leave her very far behind either physically or spiritually. He became head football coach at Lewisburg High School, compiling an outstanding 61-37-6 record, including undefeated seasons in 1957 and 1964. He returned to Bucknell for several years, beginning in 1969, and then became varsity football coach at Warrior Run High School for three seasons.
(Bucknell Hall of Fame Class of 1979)