Phil Lawrence

Phillip “Phil” Lawrence was born on 10/16/1948 and grew up on a farm located just Southeast of Hudson, Michigan for 18 years. Phil attended Sacred Heart School in Hudson for Grades 1st-8th, then attended Hudson Area High School. He participated in football, wrestling and baseball. Phil graduated in June 1967.

On September 14th, 1967, Phil joined the United States Navy and served for a little over three years as a U.S. Navy Corpsman. He served in the Vietnam War from January 1970 to October 1970 with the Navy Construction Unit CBMU 301.

Separating from the U.S. Navy in October 1970, Phil went on to further his education in the Fall of 1972 using his GI Bill, and graduated from Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan in May 1976 with his teaching degree.

Phil married Rebecca (Hartley) Lawrence in June of 1974 and remained married for 49 years until Rebecca’s passing on October 7th,2023. During their marriage, Phil and Rebecca had two children, Jason and Beth, and four beautiful grandchildren.

Phil taught at Hudson Area High School for 33 years, and also coached football, wrestling and baseball. He had many other roles at Hudson High including Varsity Club advisor, Driver’s Education teacher, Class Advisor, athletic event announcer and more. Rebecca also taught at Hudson Area Schools for 40 years.

In addition to teaching and coaching, Phil supported and participated in many community events and activities such as American Cancer Society Relay for Life for Lenawee County, and fundraising to benefit local schools such as a new press box at Hudson Tiger football field and a new outdoor track at Lenawee Christian School in Adrian, Michigan.
Helping and honoring local Veterans was and still is very important to Phil as he has been a member of American Legion Post 180 in Hudson, Michigan for 51 years and a member of the Legion Honor Guard for 43 years. He has marched in the Hudson Memorial Day Parade for a total of 35 years and served as Vice Commander for a year.

Phil also enjoys helping put flags out at local cemeteries every year for Memorial Day and participates in Wreaths Across America. He was instrumental in bringing the Moving (Vietnam) Wall to Lenawee County in 2018, and worked hard to organize a Veteran pinning ceremony at Post 180 in 2017.

For his contributions to his community and profession, Phil has received the following awards and recognition: Lenawee County Football Coach of the Year in 1980, 1982 and 1985; MHSAA Regional Football Coach of the Year in 1982 and 1985; Adrian College Football Hall of Fame and Coach from 1994-2009; Adrian College Baseball Hall of Fame and Coach from 1997-2009; and Siena Heights University Football Hall of Fame and Coach 2011-2016.

Phil states “All my years of teaching, coaching and community involvement have made my life a super fun journey of helping people, especially young people. And it all started with my honor to serve my country from September 1967 to October 1970 as a Navy Corpsman, whose job it was to help others. My military Corpsman service was the foundation for the rest of my adult years, helping others as a Teacher and a Coach.”