Lawrence C. McCauley

Class of 2008

Lawrence “Mac” McCauley graduated from Granite City High School in 1925 and ventured off to the Journalism School at the University of Missouri; he lettered in football three times while attending Mizzou. In 1935 he returned to Granite City and took a position in the English Department. In 1942 Mac took a respite from the classroom to serve his country in World War II (he joined the Navy); he remained in the military essentially until the war’s duration. Upon his discharge Mac returned to his English classes at Granite City High School. He remained as a classroom instructor through 1954.

It was during his time an English instructor that Mac took up the additional task of coaching. It was not unusual for a teacher to have multiple coaching assignments — Mac was not an exception. Initially he, from ’37 through ’39, was the tennis coach. He also coached football and baseball during his tenure at Granite City. His 1948 baseball squad captured the State Championship.

In the 1940-41 school year he became the Head Wrestling Coach. It must have been a good fit because his dual record was 9-1 and his team placed 5th in what was then the fifth IHSA State Wrestling Tournament. That year Granite City produced four medalists: a second, a third and two fourths.

Mac returned to coaching following the war and remained as Granite City’s Head Coach through the 1949 season. During this brief time span he never lost a dual meet, going 5-0, 6-0, 10-0 and 14-0. Twice more would his teams finish in the top ten in the State Tournament. Additionally, Mac would have five more medalists, including his first and only State Champion (1946, Charles Merzian 112 lbs.).

Not only did Mac coach wrestling, he was also an accomplished official. He worked the Missouri State Tournament in the late ‘30s and early ‘40s. He had several assignments officiating University of Illinois duals and other Big Ten events. Around 1949 he helped to produce, with the assistance from University of Illinois coach “Hec” Kenney and Illinois’s NCAA Champ Al Sapora, a technique film that was later employed in promoting the sport locally.

Sadly, Lawrence “Mac” McCauley passed in October 1972.