“Coach Paul Lane Field” Coming to Staples; New Name Approved by the RTM

Westport Local Press photo. 

Tonight, with a unanimous decision by 29 members, the RTM voted to name the Staples High School football field “Coach Paul Lane Field” in honor of the Staples “Legend” Coach Paul Lane. The vote was the final hurdle for the renaming, which garnered the support of over one thousand online petitioners and local community members.

Through tears, Coach Laddie Lawrence - for whom the school’s track is named in honor of - said “I would be delighted to have his name next to mine” when speaking over Zoom to the representatives. “One of the things you don’t know is you have Ginny Parker Field and Loeffler Field - Paul, Ginny, and Albie all worked together at Staples, and were the backbone at establishing Staples as the athletic school that it is today.” he continued to explain. “You don’t know what this man meant to me.” Lane was aware that a petition was started and that the field’s renaming was in-process prior to his passing-away in June at the age of 93.

“I’m blessed to know, went to school or interacted with every one of the people that we’ve named (fields after) and Paul Lane completes the circle.” said RTM member Arline Gertzoff.