Before the Olympics, He Was a Gridiron Legend
With a history spanning over 120 years, Washington State University has had a proud history of athletic excellence in every sport. Though football and basketball capture most of the public’s attention, the track program boasts one of the greatest athletes in school history, who brought fame and national recognition to WSU during the 1930's. Hailing from the small Washington town of Monroe, Lee Orr was not only an All-American in track but also competed in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Though Orr is still renowned for his athletic ability in track, his skill on the football field is lesser known but was felt during his time. As an All-State halfback in high school, Orr’s talent on the gridiron was unmatched, though it was largely unused during his time at WSC. Despite choosing track over football, Orr’s career in football shows flashes of greatness. Fig 1. Lee Orr in formation at Monroe, 1934. Courtesy of the Monroe Historical Society A Rising Star Lee Pierce Orr was born in 1917 in