James H. Rowland facts for kids
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 9, 1909 |
| Died | January 4, 1991 (aged 85) |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| c. 1930 | Cheyney |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1935–1940 | Bluefield State |
| 1941–1942 | Howard |
| Basketball | |
| 1935–1941 | Bluefield State |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1935–1941 | Bluefield State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 24–27–16 (football) |
| Bowls | 0–1 |
James Henry Rowland Sr. (born January 9, 1909 – died January 4, 1991) was an important figure in American sports and law. He was a coach for American football and basketball, a college sports manager, and a lawyer. He led football teams at Bluefield State College and Howard University. He also coached basketball at Bluefield State.
Contents
Who Was James H. Rowland?
James Henry Rowland Sr. was a talented person who made a difference in many areas. He was known for his work as a coach and for his legal career. His life showed how someone could succeed in both sports and academics.
Early Life and Education
James Rowland grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He went to William Penn High School there. After high school, he attended Cheyney State Teacher's College. At Cheyney, he was a great athlete. He played both football and basketball. He also ran track.
Later, James Rowland went to Ohio State University. He continued to play football on the freshman and reserve teams. He also kept running track. He worked hard and earned two degrees from Ohio State. He received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in Education.
Coaching and Administration Career
Before joining Bluefield State, Rowland worked as a principal in a grade school. This was in Mecklenburg County, Virginia.
From 1935 to 1941, Rowland worked at Bluefield State College in Bluefield, West Virginia. He was the head football coach there from 1935 to 1940. He also coached the basketball team from 1935 to 1941. Besides coaching, he was the athletic director for the college. He even coached boxing and was an assistant professor.
After Bluefield State, Rowland became the head football coach at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. He coached the Howard Bison football team from 1941 to 1942. Throughout his college football coaching career, his teams had a record of 24 wins, 27 losses, and 16 ties.
Later Career as a Lawyer
After his time in college sports, James Rowland changed his career path. He became a lawyer. He practiced law in his hometown of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He also served as a member of the Pennsylvania Board of Education. This showed his continued dedication to education and public service.
