New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-12-22
LASSMAN AN IDOL
OF LOCAL FRIENDS
Big Football Player Of n Y. u
Has Many Admirers Here

Just big, jolly. good -natured
chap who would do anything in the
world Tor you and who couldn't hold
grievance against you II: he tried.
He is big Al" Lassman, tackle and
captain of New York University
football team who is known by sew
eral people in New. Britain. Some
became acquainted with him when
he was employed as bell hop at the
Montowese hotel in Indian Neck
during the summers of 1924 and
1925. and Others met him when he
played at Gushing Academy.
Reservoir Of Energy
When he worked at the Connec-
ticut hotel he was six feet four
inches and was still growing. He
weighed more thon zoo pounds and
had the strength of a bull. 1t was
the system at the hotel to have four
bell hops. all of whom would be on
duty in the morning. after which
two were relieved. The task would
then be left to the other two who
would work from noon until II
o'clock at night. Some days the
work would be enough to tax the en-
ergy of two ordinary boys and AIS
co-worker would be no exception to-
ward the latter part of the day
when he would show signs of firing.
AL. on the other hand. would he still
fresh and he would do the double
work to allow his friend to have a
rest.
Trunk JuggIcr
The principal task for the bell
hops was to carry trunks up and
down three flights OF stairs. Be-
cause of Lassman's strength he was
able to carry trunks alone. Like
many OF the summer hotels there
were very few conveniences and
among those which were not present
was an elevator.
One New Britainite worked at the
hotel during the summer of 1924,
Several times during his three
months stay Al would ask him:
"How's Dixie Griffin" or Have
you heard from Emil Muche ?"
These two men were fellow members
of the Cushing Academy football
team where they went after playing
on tn state mponship New
Britain high school football team OF
1921.
Both Of these players were heroes
in the eye of Al Lassman, and he
often told of the wonderful feat of
broken-tield running displayed by
Griffin and the great catching OF
forward passes by Muche.
Clever With His dukes"
In his spare time at the hotel Al
used to put on the gloves" with the
other bell hops and on occasion
with some OF the colored kitchen
help All the colored boys had an at
lection for the big bell hop.
He entered New York University
and will be graduated this year after
one of the greatest athletic careers
ever enjoyed by one OF the N. Y
us sons. He won the boxing cham
pionship two years in succession and
i was never defeated in college. He
starred on the football team and led
his team into battle until he suffer-
ed a serious injury in the New York
| U.-Carnegic Tech game.
! He suffered a conclusion OF the
brain and lay at Il Pittsburgh hos
pital for many days in a serious con-
diton. At first it was thought that
he had suffered fractured skull
He was taken TO New York last
week and Is now recovering.
Practically every football expert
and sports writer has picked Al fol
at least a place on the second All
America football team if not the
first. He is recognized as one OF the
outstanding linemen In the east
1t is AIS ambition to become the
heavyweight boxing champion OF the
world. His friends in this city Will
be pulling for him to come through
! as we'll as he has in the past.