F.G. LaMotte

F. Gibbs LaMotte was born in Carroll County (Md.) in 1889. His family moved to Baltimore when he was very young. They remained in the city until 1901, when they moved to Mt. Washington.

The Mt. Washington Club at that time consisted of several tennis courts, and the grounds of the old Baltimore Cricket Club. About 1905, the families of the community formed a group that made a settlement for the property and created the Mt. Washington Club. Baseball and football teams were organized, and a few years later, lacrosse was added.

Gibbs entered Baltimore Polytechnic in 1905. Football was his only interest among the various sports activities. He played on the varsity football team as a hard running half back in his freshman year and the three succeeding years. In his senior year, he was captain of the team and vice president of his class.He graduated in 1909 and selected Cornell for a civil engineering course, but conditions at that time prevented his going to college. Instead, he entered business with his father.

After 21 years with his father, and a short period in banking, he entered the life insurance business in 1930. Gibbs started his lacrosse career at Mt. Washington, where he became a keen student of the game under Coach Bill Schmeisser. Gibbs advanced so rapidly that he played on the team in his first year. He specialized in defense and played full time (at point) in every game during the sixteen years between 1909-1925, and became known as the "Iron Man."

Except for about six years, he also coached. In 1925, his handling of his players was an important factor in a great victory over The Crescent Club (the second time in 20 years that the Hillmen had triumphed over this rival), and Mt. Washington was the championship lacrosse club of the nation. In those days the Mounts won ninety-eight percent of their games. He is very proud of the honor awarded him by the Club in the form of a certificate which reads "This is to certify that Gibbs LaMotte - Defense - has been selected as one of the all-time great lacrosse players."

Gibbs LaMotte passed away in 1970.