Doug Turnbull
Encyclopedia
Douglas Clayland Turnbull, Jr. (1903 – 1993) was an American lacrosse
player. He was the first player, and remains one of only four, to have been named to the USILA
All-America
first team all four years of his college career. Turnbull played college lacrosse and football at Johns Hopkins University
. In 1923, he led the nation in placekicking
. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1962.
, from which he graduated in 1921. While there, he played football, basketball, and lacrosse, and as a senior, captained the lacrosse team. During his time at Poly, his lacrosse teams defeated cross-town rival Baltimore City College
three out of four times, and also beat collegiate teams of Maryland and Penn
.
and earned a Bachelor of Science
degree in engineering in 1924, and the following year continued postgraduate studies in engineering, mathematics, and thermodynamics. Turnbull was a two-time president of the Omicron Delta Kappa
leadership honor society in 1924 and 1925.
During his undergraduate career, Turnbull became the first college lacrosse player named to the USILA All-America first team all four years of his collegiate career, a feat that has been matched only three times since (by Frank Urso
, Del Dressell, and Mikey Powell). He played every lacrosse position with the exception of goalkeeper. He played on the Hopkins football team as a left halfback
, and in 1923, led the nation in placekicking. That season, he made six field goals and fifteen extra point
s. Head football coach Ray Van Orman
named Turnbull to his All-Time Hopkins Football Team, and lacrosse coach Bill Schmeisser
named him to his Honor Roll of Hopkins Lacrosse Tradition. Turnbull was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1962. He was inducted into the charter class of the Johns Hopkins Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.
from 1925 to 1943. He became a member of the company's Executive Department on September 1, 1943. In 1962, he was working as the chairman of the Locomotive Development Committee, a member of the National Coal Policy Conference, a trustee of the Maryland Academy of Sciences, a member of the Physical Fitness Commission, and the Off-Street Parking Commission.
Turnbull continued playing lacrosse after college with the prestigious Mount Washington Lacrosse Club
from 1926 to 1938, including as team captain in 1930. Turnbull managed the club's ice hockey
team in 1932 and 1933. He served as an assistant lacrosse coach for the club in 1939 and 1940. In 1934, he coached lacrosse at the Gilman School
. Turnbull occasionally worked as a scout for Johns Hopkins, Mount Washington, and Army
.
, another Johns Hopkins lacrosse star, was his younger brother. He is the namesake of the Jack Turnbull Award
for college lacrosse's top attackman. In 1927, Turnbull married Virginia née Steuart, with whom he had five children, four sons and one daughter.
Turnbull died in his sleep at the age of 91 on April 12, 1996 at Fairhaven Retirement Center in Sykesville, Maryland
.
Field lacrosse
Field lacrosse, sometimes referred to as the "fastest sport on two feet," is a full contact outdoor men's sport played with ten players on each team. The sport originated among Native Americans, and the modern rules of field lacrosse were initially codified by Canadian William George Beers in 1867....
player. He was the first player, and remains one of only four, to have been named to the USILA
United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association is an association of institutions with varsity college lacrosse programs in all three NCAA divisions, founded in 1885.-Awards:...
All-America
USILA All-American Team
The USILA All-American Team is an honor given annually to the best American men's college lacrosse players at their respective positions by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The term All-American is derived from the same practice in American college football, in which the...
first team all four years of his college career. Turnbull played college lacrosse and football at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. In 1923, he led the nation in placekicking
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1962.
Early life
Turnbull was born on July 23, 1903 in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Baltimore Polytechnic InstituteBaltimore Polytechnic Institute
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute is a US public high school founded in 1883. Though established as an all-male trade school,it now is a institution that emphasizes mathematics, the sciences, and engineering. It is located on a tract of land in North Baltimore at Falls Road and Cold Spring Lane,...
, from which he graduated in 1921. While there, he played football, basketball, and lacrosse, and as a senior, captained the lacrosse team. During his time at Poly, his lacrosse teams defeated cross-town rival Baltimore City College
Baltimore City College
The Baltimore City College , also referred to as The Castle on the Hill, historically as The College, and most commonly City, is a public high school in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. The City College curriculum includes the International Baccalaureate Programme and emphasizes study in the classics...
three out of four times, and also beat collegiate teams of Maryland and Penn
Penn Quakers men's lacrosse
The Penn Quakers men's lacrosse team represents the University of Pennsylvania in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
.
College career
He attended college at Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
and earned a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in engineering in 1924, and the following year continued postgraduate studies in engineering, mathematics, and thermodynamics. Turnbull was a two-time president of the Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa, or ΟΔΚ, also known as The Circle, or more commonly ODK, is a national leadership honor society. It was founded December 3, 1914, at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, by 15 student and faculty leaders. Chapters, known as Circles, are located on over 300...
leadership honor society in 1924 and 1925.
During his undergraduate career, Turnbull became the first college lacrosse player named to the USILA All-America first team all four years of his collegiate career, a feat that has been matched only three times since (by Frank Urso
Frank Urso
Frank Urso is a former American lacrosse player and current high school lacrosse coach, best known for his collegiate career at the University of Maryland from 1973 to 1976...
, Del Dressell, and Mikey Powell). He played every lacrosse position with the exception of goalkeeper. He played on the Hopkins football team as a left halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
, and in 1923, led the nation in placekicking. That season, he made six field goals and fifteen extra point
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
s. Head football coach Ray Van Orman
Ray Van Orman
Ray Van Orman, D.V.M., was an American veterinarian and college football and lacrosse coach. He served as the head lacrosse and football coach at Johns Hopkins University, from 1920 to 1935 and 1926 to 1935 respectively, and the head lacrosse coach at Cornell University from 1940 to 1949...
named Turnbull to his All-Time Hopkins Football Team, and lacrosse coach Bill Schmeisser
Bill Schmeisser
William Christian Schmeisser , known widely as "Father Bill", was an American lacrosse player, coach, and patron. He served as the head coach of the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays for ten non-consecutive years, and won eight national championships. He was also an active patron of the sport and promoter of...
named him to his Honor Roll of Hopkins Lacrosse Tradition. Turnbull was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1962. He was inducted into the charter class of the Johns Hopkins Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.
Professional career
Turnbull worked for the Baltimore Gas & Electric CompanyConstellation Energy
Constellation Energy, headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is an energy producer, trader, and distributor. The company operates over 35 power plants in 11 states under its operating company Constellation Commodities Group and/or Constellation Generation Group...
from 1925 to 1943. He became a member of the company's Executive Department on September 1, 1943. In 1962, he was working as the chairman of the Locomotive Development Committee, a member of the National Coal Policy Conference, a trustee of the Maryland Academy of Sciences, a member of the Physical Fitness Commission, and the Off-Street Parking Commission.
Turnbull continued playing lacrosse after college with the prestigious Mount Washington Lacrosse Club
Mount Washington Lacrosse Club
The Mount Washington Lacrosse Club is an amateur field lacrosse club based in Baltimore, Maryland. It is one of the most successful and well-known lacrosse clubs in history, which at one point dominated the sport at both the collegiate and club level. The team is sometimes referred to by the...
from 1926 to 1938, including as team captain in 1930. Turnbull managed the club's ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team in 1932 and 1933. He served as an assistant lacrosse coach for the club in 1939 and 1940. In 1934, he coached lacrosse at the Gilman School
Gilman School
Gilman School is a private preparatory school for boys located in the Roland Park neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1897 as the Country School for Boys, it was the first country day school in the United States. Gilman enrolls approximately 978 students, ranging from kindergarten to...
. Turnbull occasionally worked as a scout for Johns Hopkins, Mount Washington, and Army
Army Black Knights men's lacrosse
The Army Black Knights men's lacrosse team represents the United States Military Academy in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse competition. During the team's 92-year history, it has won eight national championships and made fifteen postseason NCAA tournament...
.
Personal life
Jack TurnbullJack Turnbull
John Inglehardt "Jack" Turnbull was an American lacrosse player and 1965 inductee into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He lends his name to the Jack Turnbull Award, given to the nation's best collegiate attackman.-Biography:...
, another Johns Hopkins lacrosse star, was his younger brother. He is the namesake of the Jack Turnbull Award
Jack Turnbull Award
The "Lt. Col. J. I. Turnbull Award" — also known as the Jack Turnbull Award — is an award given to the United States' top collegiate attackman in lacrosse, named after National Lacrosse Hall of Fame alumnus Jack Turnbull. The award is given to a player in Division I, Division II, and Division...
for college lacrosse's top attackman. In 1927, Turnbull married Virginia née Steuart, with whom he had five children, four sons and one daughter.
Turnbull died in his sleep at the age of 91 on April 12, 1996 at Fairhaven Retirement Center in Sykesville, Maryland
Sykesville, Maryland
Sykesville is a town in Carroll County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,197 at the 2000 census.-History:The land on which Sykesville sits started out as part of a Springfield Estate, owned by wealthy Baltimore shipbuilder William Patterson...
.