(1983) - Described in the 1923 edition of the Pickout as the silent friend from the land of the fir tree and north wind, the late Carl Lombard, Class of 1923, was another of Lowell Textile Institute[apos]s truly gifted student-athletes of the early 1920[apos]s.
A four-year letterman on the Textile football team and a three-year letterman on the basketball squad, [quote]Lom[quote] was recognized by his classmates and teammates as a true leader. He was considered one of the best two-way tackles to ever play football at Textile according to former Athletic Director and fellow Hall of Famer, Lester H. Cushing.
Lombard and teammate Ray Carpenter were responsible for restarting the Textile basketball program after a 13-year hiatus. He captained the team his junior year that went 8-8.
Off the field, [quote]Lom[quote] made his mark as well. He was president of his class during his freshman and sophomore years, managed the [quote]Coop[quote] bookstore, and was on the Executive Council for three years.
Originally from Saco, ME, Lombard settled in Chelmsford, MA and helped form the Riggs and Lombard Co. of Lowell. He received an honorary Ph.D. from Lowell Technological Institute in 1966 and was awarded the Alumni Association[apos]s Honorary Award Citation in 1965.
The appreciation of his classmates is best summed up by this verse from the 1923 Pickout:
Out hats are off to you, old boy,
For, to our School you[apos]ve brought great joy,
As an athlete, you reign supreme,
None better, for four years, has been seen.
As a student and companion, you rank mighty high.
Lom, you[apos]re just a good old regular guy.
