Contact:  Rick Peterson, Manager of News Services, 414/832-6590
For Immediate Release						October 7, 1996
 
Graveside Ceremony Honors Lawrence Founder During Homecoming Celebration  
  
 
	APPLETON, WIS. -- When Rev. William Harkness Sampson paddled up the
Fox River in his dugout canoe in 1847 and selected a wooded bluff above the
river as the site for a new frontier college, he had no way of knowing the
institution he founded would still be flourishing 150 years later. 
	As part of Lawrence University's sesquicentennial celebration, and in
conjunction with Homecoming Weekend activities, the college will pay tribute to
Sampson Saturday, Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. with a brief, graveside ceremony in
Appleton's Riverside Cemetery.  
	Lawrence President Richard Warch will unveil a bronze plaque on the
obelisk of Sampson's grave, commemorating his life and the role he played in
establishing Lawrence University.  The ceremony is free and open to the public. 
	Also scheduled for homecoming weekend is the induction of the charter
class to Lawrence's new athletic hall of fame.  Fifteen former athletes and
coaches will be enshired during formal ceremonies at Alexander Gymnasium Friday
evening.  
	A bonfire and pep rally will also be held Friday evening at 8:30 p.m.
on Union Hill, adjacent to Lawe St.  The Lawrence football team plays St.
Norbert College Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in the Banta Bowl.
	Lawrence is one year older than the state of Wisconsin and 10 years
older than the incorporation of Appleton as a city,  It is one of approximately
200 colleges still operating from the more than 900 institutions that were 
founded in this country prior to the Civil War.