Levi Lamb Day to Recognize Pioneering Penn State Athlete and Fallen Soldier

The Penn State All-Sports Museum and Nittany Lion Club will host Levi Lamb Day on Wednesday, honoring the life and career of the renowned three-sport Nittany Lion athlete who died while serving in World War I.

At noon, Penn State All-Sports Museum Director Ken Hickman will deliver a lecture titled ‘Fallen Lion: Levi Lamb Goes to War,’ which also will be livestreamed on the museum’s Facebook page. 

Wednesday marks the 100th anniversary of Lamb’s death. After enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1917, Lamb was commissioned as a second lieutenant and assigned to the 2nd Division’s 9th Infantry. He entered combat in March 1918 in France as the Allies fought back German advances. On July 18, 1918, Lamb was killed in action while leading his men during the Second Battle of the Marne.

He was described by his commanding officers as a “courageous and gallant officer, beloved alike by his fellow officers and men.” 

Lamb was one of two Penn State varsity athletes killed in World War I, along with former football player James D. “Red” Bebout, who died in September 1918 during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Lamb and Bebout were teammates on the undefeated 1912 football team.

Born in 1889, Lamb arrived at Penn State in 1911 and became the school’s first three-sport letter winner. He was a tackle on the football team, a wrestler who lost only twice in four years, and a standout in throwing events for the track and field team.

Lamb was recognized with a scholarship in his name and a plaque in Rec Hall before the Nittany Lion Club’s annual fund was named in his honor in 1953.

Wednesday’s lecture is free and open to the community.