Mark Catlin

During his life Mark Catlin was an American football player, coach, track athlete, lawyer, and politician. Catlin played American football for the University of Chicago from 1903 to 1905 where he earned All-Western honours and was named a second team All-American. In addition to football he was also a great track and field athlete, with him specialising in the hurdles. At the 1904 St. Louis Olympics dozens of handicap non-medal track and field events were contested alongside the “true” Olympic events. Catlin competed in three of these, coming first in the 120 yards hurdles and the 220 yards hurdles, and finishing second in the discus throw. He graduated from Chicago the following year and then had a lengthy career as a football coach.

Catlin studied law at the University of Iowa where he coached the Hawkeyes from 1906 to 1908. Following his stint at Iowa he went to Lawrence University in Wisconsin where he had two separate spells as coach of the Vikings (1909–18, 1924–27). From 1909 to 1912 he also coached the basketball team. Away from sports Catlin served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1921 to 1923 and later worked as an attorney. He was inducted into the Lawrence University Hall of Fame in 2002 and the University of Chicago’s Hall of Fame in 2005.