Rolla Bigelow
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| Date of birth: | June 19, 1878 |
| Place of birth: | Corunna, Shiawassee County, Michigan |
| Date of death: | November 16, 1952 aoremovetag(aged 74) |
| Place of death: | Winter Park, Florida |
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| Position(s): | Halfback, Fullback |
| College: | Michigan Agr. College, Michigan |
| Organizations | |
Robert Lavante "Rolla" Bigelow (June 19, 1878 – December 16, 1952) was an American banker and football player. A native of Shiawassee County, Michigan, he played college football for Michigan Agricultural College in 1898 and the University of Michigan from 1902 to 1903. He played for Fielding H. Yost's "Point-a-Minute" teams that compiled a record of 22-0-1 and outscored opponents 1,209 to 18 during the 1902 and 1903 seasons. He later moved to New York where he founded the investment banking firm, Bigelow & Co., in the 1910s. In 1921, he founded Bigelow State Bank, which later became Eastern Exchange Bank.
Early years
Bigelow was born in Corunna in Shiawassee County, Michigan in 1878. His parents, Rolla P. Bigelow and Charlotte (Pratt) Bigelow, were both Michigan natives. At the time of the 1880 United States Census, Bigelow's father was employed as a store clerk in Corunna. He was later employed as a "commercial traveler." The family moved to Owosso, Michigan, where Bigelow was raised.
Bigelow initially attended Michigan Agricultural College (M.A.C.), later known as Michigan State University. He played for the M.A.C. football team in 1898.
University of Michigan
Bigelow transferred to the University of Michigan where he played college football for Fielding H. Yost's "Point-a-Minute" teams. Bigelow was a reserve tackle on the 1902 Michigan Wolverines football team that finished with an 11–0 record, outscored its opponents by a combined score of 644 to 12, and has been recognized as national champions. The following year, he started two games, one at halfback and the other at fullback for the 1903 Michigan team that compiled an 11–0–1 record, outscored opponents 565 to 6, and has been recognized as the 1903 national champions. Bigelow scored five touchdowns (including three in one game) for the 1903 team. He graduated from Michigan with an engineering degree in 1905.
Banking career
Family and later years
Bigelow was married to Doris (Bissell) Bigelow in 1916. They had a daughter, Betsy Bigelow, and a son, Robert Pratt Bigelow. At the time of the 1930 United States Census, Bigelow was living in Woodsburgh, Nassau County, New York with his wife Doris, their two children Doris E. Bigelow aoremovetag(age 8) and Robert P. Bigelow aoremovetag(age 3), and three servants. Bigelow's occupation was listed as a bank president.
After retiring, Bigelow moved to Winter Haven in central Florida. In December 1952, he died at a hospital in Winter Haven at age 74 after a brief illness.
References
Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rolla_Bigelow&oldid=459573809
