Shippensburg University Athletics

Altoona native Ron Lawhead was a standout lineman with the Shippensburg University football team. He was co-captain of the football team in 1957, which won a share of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship. The Red Raiders finished that season with an undefeated 6-0-1 record. Shippensburg opened up with a 6-6 tie against Southern Connecticut, a national power at the time, then won six games in a row and finished the season with a 5-0 conference record. Lawhead’s blocking helped the Red Raiders gain 242.6 yards per game rushing; a team record. Shippensburg gained more than 350 yards rushing in two games this season.

Lawhead was named All-PSAC three years in a row. He was All-Pennsylvania two years and was honorable mention All-America his senior season.

In Lawhead’s freshman year Shippensburg compiled a 7-1 record. His sophomore season the team had a 4-4-2 record and then as a junior, the Red Raiders had a 6-2 record. That season, the Red Raiders won the last five games in a row, beginning a 12 game undefeated streak that lasted through Lawhead’s senior year. For his four seasons Shippensburg compiled a 23-5-3 record for a winning percentage of .790. In addition to lettering in football four years Lawhead lettered once in baseball.

Following graduation, he distinguished himself as a teacher and coach. He retired as assistant principal of Chambersburg High School. He also was an assistant coach of football and head coach of wrestling at Chambersburg. Earlier in his career he was head football coach at Littlestown High School where he guided the team to its first undefeated season in its history in 1959.