Lawrence O. Lawson

Lawrence Oscar Lawson (September 11, 1842 – October 29, 1912) was a station keeper in the United States Life-Saving Service.

[1] As station keeper, Lawson was responsible for selecting and training Northwestern University students to serve as his surfboat crew.

[2] On November 28, 1889, he led the crew of his surfboat on a heroic rescue of all 18 crewmen of the freighter Calumet.

During his twenty-three years as station keeper, Lawson and his crews responded to 68 shipwrecks and were responsible for saving over four hundred lives.

[2] In 1988, Lawson Park on the shore of Lake Michigan in Evanston was named in his honor.