Inducted May 20, 1961
Edmund was born January 18, 1891 and passed away on September 8, 1962. From 1908-1912, he dominated amateur speed skating. In 1912, he left the amateur ranks behind and, as a professional, reigned as champion until 1917, when he was defeated by Bobby McLean of Chicago. His years as professional skater generated excitement and numerous records. In addition to his winning ways in speed skating Ed soared as a barrel jumper, setting a world record of 14 barrels or 27 feet 8 inches in 1912. This feat earned him recognition from “Ripley’s Believe it or Not.” 1919 was another record breaking year for Lamy, he set records for the quarter mile (34.8), three quarter mile (1.55) and three mile (14:15). Ed had a flair for showmanship and in the speedskating races where he held a large lead, he was known to skate the final lap backwards. He was inducted into the National Speedskating Hall of Fame on May 20, 1961 in Minneapolis, Minnesota as an International Champion.
Lamy reached the peak of his racing career in 1908-09. He was National and North American indoor and outdoor speed skating champion in 1908, 1909, and 1910. In the course of his amateur racing career Lamy recorded 69 first place finishes, 3 seconds, and 2 thirds. While there were no Olympic Games during the peak of Lamy’s career he was considered by many to be the senior men’s indoor and outdoor international champion. During competitions Lamy usually wore a flashy red skate suit and was known as the “Red Demon.” Not only was Lamy an outstanding speed skater, but he also participated in barrel jumping. In 1914 he set the world record by jumping 14 sugar barrels, a distance of 27 feet 6 inches from the first barrel to the last. It is important to note that in later barrel jumping competitions the measurements of the jump were measured from takeoff and landing and that Lamy’s jump was recorded only by the distance of the barrels. Had Lamy’s jump been measured by takeoff and landing his jump would have been well over 30 feet!
The US started sending troops to fight in World War I in 2017. In the spring of 1918 the Spanish Flu epidemic spread across the world. Skating events, sports activities and nearly all social gatherings were suspended. Athletes who might have competed in skating events joined the armed forces for the duration of World War I and then waited for the flu epidemic to run its course sometime at the end of 1919 or early 1920.
Article by Jack Shea tells about Ed Lamy 1996-Apr-Racing-Blade Charles Jewtraw
Article tells about championships races against Bobby McLean; mentions Charles Jewtraw
