James Lynah
Encyclopedia
James Lynah was an American businessman and sports administrator who is considered the principal founder of the Eastern College Athletic Conference
.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina
, Lynah transferred from Clemson University
to graduate from Cornell University
in 1905 where he was a member of the Quill and Dagger
society and Sigma Phi
. He was captain and quarterback of the football team under Coach Pop Warner
.
After graduation, Lynah worked for DuPont
for fifteen years, becoming a plant manager during World War I
. He went on to work at General Motors
from 1922 to 1929, serving as director of purchasing and manufacturing staff. An active alumnus of Cornell University
, he was involved in many alumni committees, was chairman of a committee for the development of the College of Engineering
and was a member of the College of Engineering Council.
He succeeded Graduate Manager of Athletics Romeyn Berry
as the first Director of Athletics at Cornell University
from 1935 to 1943. While serving as athletic director, Lynah led the movement to establish an athletic conference in the eastern United States. His efforts led to the creation of the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletics agency, which became the modern ECAC
. Lynah was succeeded at Cornell by Robert Kane
. Lynah Rink
is named in his honor. He was an inaugural member of the Cornell University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Lynah left his position at Cornell on indefinite leave to serve as assistant director of the ammunition and light ordnance division of the National Defense Advisory Committee in Washington. He chaired the NCAA committee on recruitment beginning in 1944. He was also a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
, American Academy of Political and Social Science
, and American Society of Mechanical Engineers
.
Lynah died in South Carolina
on February 24, 1956.
The ECAC
created the James Lynah Distinguished Achievement Award in 1957 to recognize outstanding athletic administrators. Previous winners include Asa Bushnell
(1959), Thomas J. Hamilton
(1976) and Robert Kane
(1977).
Eastern College Athletic Conference
The Eastern College Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference comprising schools that compete in 21 sports . It has 317 member institutions in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, ranging in location from Maine to North Carolina and west to Illinois...
.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, Lynah transferred from Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
to graduate from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1905 where he was a member of the Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger is a senior honor society at Cornell University. It is often recognized as one of the most prominent collegiate societies of its type, along with Skull and Bones of Yale University...
society and Sigma Phi
Sigma Phi
The Sigma Phi Society was founded on 4 March 1827, on the campus of Union College as a part of the Union Triad in Schenectady, New York.It is the second oldest Greek fraternal organization in the United States, and the oldest in continuous existence...
. He was captain and quarterback of the football team under Coach Pop Warner
Glenn Scobey Warner
Glenn Scobey Warner , most commonly known as Pop Warner, was an American football player and coach...
.
After graduation, Lynah worked for DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
for fifteen years, becoming a plant manager during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He went on to work at General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
from 1922 to 1929, serving as director of purchasing and manufacturing staff. An active alumnus of Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, he was involved in many alumni committees, was chairman of a committee for the development of the College of Engineering
Cornell University College of Engineering
The College of Engineering is a division of Cornell University that was founded in 1870 as the Sibley College of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanic Arts...
and was a member of the College of Engineering Council.
He succeeded Graduate Manager of Athletics Romeyn Berry
Romeyn Berry
Romeyn Berry was an American sports administrator.Nicknamed "Rym," Berry attended Cornell University, graduating in 1904 and earning a law degree in 1906. During his senior year, Berry was elected to the Sphinx Head Society and editor of the Cornell Widow with George Jean Nathan as business manager...
as the first Director of Athletics at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
from 1935 to 1943. While serving as athletic director, Lynah led the movement to establish an athletic conference in the eastern United States. His efforts led to the creation of the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletics agency, which became the modern ECAC
Eastern College Athletic Conference
The Eastern College Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference comprising schools that compete in 21 sports . It has 317 member institutions in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, ranging in location from Maine to North Carolina and west to Illinois...
. Lynah was succeeded at Cornell by Robert Kane
Robert Kane (sports administrator)
Robert Kane was a celebrated sports administrator.Kane attended Ithaca High School and Cornell University, where he established himself as a talented sprinter. As a senior at Cornell, he was elected to the Sphinx Head Society....
. Lynah Rink
Lynah Rink
Lynah Rink is a 4,267-seat hockey arena at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, that opened in 1957. Named after James Lynah, Class of 1905, who was the director of Cornell athletics from 1935-1943, it is home to the Big Red men's and women's ice hockey teams.Lynah has been home to hockey greats...
is named in his honor. He was an inaugural member of the Cornell University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Lynah left his position at Cornell on indefinite leave to serve as assistant director of the ammunition and light ordnance division of the National Defense Advisory Committee in Washington. He chaired the NCAA committee on recruitment beginning in 1944. He was also a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
, American Academy of Political and Social Science
American Academy of Political and Social Science
The American Academy of Political and Social Science was founded in 1889 to promote progress in the social sciences. Sparked by Professor Edmund J. James and drawing from members of the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College, and Bryn Mawr College, the Academy sought to...
, and American Society of Mechanical Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is a professional body, specifically an engineering society, focused on mechanical engineering....
.
Lynah died in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
on February 24, 1956.
The ECAC
Eastern College Athletic Conference
The Eastern College Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference comprising schools that compete in 21 sports . It has 317 member institutions in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, ranging in location from Maine to North Carolina and west to Illinois...
created the James Lynah Distinguished Achievement Award in 1957 to recognize outstanding athletic administrators. Previous winners include Asa Bushnell
Asa Bushnell
Asa Smith Bushnell III was the first commissioner of the Eastern College Athletic Conference, serving from 1938 to 1970 , and was board member and secretary of the United States Olympic Committee, editing, co-editing and/or writing "Olympic Books" at least from 1948-65...
(1959), Thomas J. Hamilton
Tom Hamilton (coach)
Thomas James "Tom" Hamilton was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and naval aviator who rose to the rank of rear admiral in the United States Navy...
(1976) and Robert Kane
Robert Kane (sports administrator)
Robert Kane was a celebrated sports administrator.Kane attended Ithaca High School and Cornell University, where he established himself as a talented sprinter. As a senior at Cornell, he was elected to the Sphinx Head Society....
(1977).