The Virginian-Pilot, (Virginia Beach, VA) August 18, 1990

LAWRENCE WELDON, WAS REDSKINS PLAYER AND CRADOCK COACH

Lawrence Davis Weldon, of the 1300 block of Brant Road, a former Washington Redskins quarterback and former high school coach and teacher, died Aug. 17, 1990, in a nursing home. He was 75.

A native of Mayesville, S.C., Mr. Weldon was a backup quarterback to the legendary Sammy Baugh with the Washington Redskins in 1944-45. He also served as Washington's assistant coach, helping the Redskins install the T-formation.He was head football coach at Cradock High School, Portsmouth, for 19 years. He stepped down in 1969 to serve as fulltime athletic director until 1972, when he resigned to become a principal in the Lunenburg County school system.
A graduate of Presbyterian College in South Carolina, where he became one of the school's all-time greats in football and baseball, Mr. Weldon recalled his days with the Redskins as the highlight of his career, although admitting playing backup to the great Baugh was somewhat a life of obscurity.

It was while he was with the Redskins that he became involved in the T-attack. He learned the system under Clark Shaughnessy, who was called in by the Redskins to make the switch from single-wing to T.

Mr. Weldon later coached the Wilmington Clippers, a Redskin farm in the old American Football League. He also coached at Bishopville High School in Sumter, S.C., Hargrave Military Academy, and Presbyterian College.
Before he came to Cradock, Mr. Weldon had already established himself as a football idol with Portsmouth fans. A triple-threat, he led the Portsmouth Cubs to the Dixie Pro Football League championship in 1940. Not only did he lead the attack, but he was coach and part-owner of the club.

Dixie League fans first knew him as Larry Jacobs. He took the assumed name because he was under contract to the St. Louis Cardinals as a pitcher and didn't want his baseball owners to know he was playing football.

At Cradock, Mr. Weldon developed many high school stars. In 1953, Mickey Riggs scored 176 points for the Admirals, which held up until 1971 when it was tied by Robert ``Ton'' Davis of Wilson High.

In 27 years as a professional and high school coach, Mr. Weldon compiled a 158-97-15 record.
In baseball, he pitched at San Diego, Rochester, Spartanburg, Lynchburg and Portsmouth.
He was a member of Cradock Baptist Church, Lake Drummond Masonic Lodge 178 and the Portsmouth and Virginia Beach sports clubs.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret Cutchin Weldon; three daughters, Betty A. Fowler of Virginia Beach, Debi G. Conner of Charlottesville and Margaret L. Batz of Earlysville, Va.; a son, Larry C. Weldon of Kitty Hawk; two sisters, Leila McLaughlin and Anne M. Myers, both of Baltimore; a brother, Claude E. Weldon of Long Beach, N.C.; three grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

The funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday in Sturtevant Funeral Home by the Rev. Earl Freeland. Burial will be in Olive Branch Cemetery. Friends may join the family from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad.
 

The Virginian-Pilot, (Norfolk, VA) - March 2, 2003

Margaret Cutchin Weldon, 82, of Brant Road, died Feb. 28, 2003. A native of Portsmouth, she was a Baptist.

She is survived by her husband, Lawrence Davis Weldon; three daughters, Betty Anne Fowler and Margaret Lynn Batz, both of Atlanta, Ga., and Debi Gale Conner of Chesapeake; a son, Larry Cutchin Weldon of Virginia Beach; two brothers, Tom Cutchin of Suffolk and the Rev. Jason Cutchin of Petersburg, Va.; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. in Olive Branch Cemetery by the Rev. Jason Cutchin. The family will be at Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel, Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m.