James Lehman set records as St. John's football player

"A kind and generous man," he played for Colts, was a teacher, insurance agent and father of pro golfer Tom.

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: November 4, 2009 - 8:15 PM

There have been many great games in the storied history of St. John's University football, but one that still stands out is the day when halfback James E. Lehman scored five touchdowns against Augustana College in 1954. It's a school record that still stands.

Lehman also holds the school record for the longest run from scrimmage -- 91 yards -- and appears on the leader board in several other offensive categories more than 50 years after he stepped off the gridiron. He capped his senior season by scoring 16 touchdowns and being named the MIAC's most valuable player for the 1955 season, and subsequently went on to play one season with the 1958 world champion Baltimore Colts.

"He was a tremendous player, a great player and very unselfish," said St. John's University head coach John Gagliardi, whose 469 career wins are the most in college football.

"He was one of those guys you love to have in the program."

Lehman died from complications from lung surgery Oct. 29 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. He was 75.

Lehman's son Tom has enjoyed a long career on the PGA tour, including a victory in the 1996 British Open. The elder Lehman was an avid golfer himself. He taught his sons to play and spent hundreds of hours at the Alexandria Golf Club where he gave advice to kids and free lessons to up-and-coming duffers.

"He was one of my favorite members," said Ron Rebrovich, head golf pro at the club. "Everybody respected him. He was a special person who was really involved in junior golf and kids' careers. He had his roots here, but was willing to give back."

Lehman grew up in Brushvale, Minn., and graduated from Breckenridge High School where he was a standout athlete in four sports. After college, he served in the Navy before playing part of the 1958 season with the Colts.

An injury forced him to the sidelines, and he never played again. Instead, he taught history and coached football at Pacelli High School in Austin, Minn., and at Benilde High School in St. Louis Park.

From 1961 to 1969 he was a sales rep for Intercollegiate Press in Michigan. In 1969 he moved to Alexandria where he worked as an insurance agent until retirement, said his son James.

While in Alexandria, the elder Lehman was active in the community's Rotary Club and was an usher and helped with religious education programs at the Church of St. Mary.

"He was a kind and generous man," his son said. "It was common for him to do small things nobody knew of, like bringing food to a family in need or sitting with people when they needed advice."

Lehman is survived by his wife of 53 years, Barbara, of Alexandria; his sons, James of Plymouth, and Tom and Michael, both of Scottsdale, Ariz.; a sister, Dolores Nierengarten of St. Cloud, Minn., and 10 grandchildren.

Services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at the Church of St. Mary, 420 Irving St., Alexandria. Visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday at the church.