Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame
Eugene G. Grace*
- Induction:
- 2001
- Class:
- 1899
Eugene Gifford Grace was an impeccable baseball player that recorded remarkable achievements as a leader in the world of business, in the development of Lehigh University, and in the civic life of the city of Bethlehem.
A member of the class of 1899, Grace was captain of the baseball team in his senior season and hit over .400 for his career as a shortstop. He graduated at the top of his class and delivered the valedictorian speech on “The Future of Electricity.”
Upon graduation, Grace turned down a professional baseball contract from the Boston Braves that would have paid him $200 per month. Instead, Grace accepted a job as a crane operator for Bethlehem Steel that paid him $45 per month. While many doubted his decision at first, he proved everyone wrong in 1916 when he became the President of Bethlehem Steel Corporation at the age of 37. Grace went on to serve as Captain of Industry in his role as Chairman of one of America's pre-eminent corporations, Bethlehem Steel, from 1945 to 1959.
Grace shared his success with his alma mater and served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. As chairman, he generously contributed countless amounts of money and supported numerous civic contributions to both the University and to the city of Bethlehem. Prior to its opening in 1942, he provided the funds to construct Grace Hall, which today serves as home to Lehigh’s women’s volleyball and the nationally-renowned wrestling program.
“When I first visited Lehigh on my recruiting trip I saw an old, beat-up kind of gym and they told me it was Grace Hall,” senior wrestler Ryan Bernholtz said in 2001. “The next fall when I was a freshman, I saw the ‘Snake Pit’ come alive. I was like, ‘Oh my God. This old gym can really pack them in. It’s really loud.’’ You feed off the atmosphere and you never want to lose there. There is a lot of history to Grace Hall.”
Born on August 27, 1876 in Cape May, New Jersey, Grace was the son of a sea captain. He married Marion Brown, daughter of Charles Brown, a South Bethlehem burgess who co-founded the Brown-Borhek lumber supply business. Together they had three children - a daughter, Emmeline, and two sons Charles Brown Grace and Eugene Grace Gifford Jr. Eugene Grace passed away on July 7, 1960 and was survived by two grandsons, Charles Grace Jr. and Eugene Grace.
A member of the class of 1899, Grace was captain of the baseball team in his senior season and hit over .400 for his career as a shortstop. He graduated at the top of his class and delivered the valedictorian speech on “The Future of Electricity.”
Upon graduation, Grace turned down a professional baseball contract from the Boston Braves that would have paid him $200 per month. Instead, Grace accepted a job as a crane operator for Bethlehem Steel that paid him $45 per month. While many doubted his decision at first, he proved everyone wrong in 1916 when he became the President of Bethlehem Steel Corporation at the age of 37. Grace went on to serve as Captain of Industry in his role as Chairman of one of America's pre-eminent corporations, Bethlehem Steel, from 1945 to 1959.
Grace shared his success with his alma mater and served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. As chairman, he generously contributed countless amounts of money and supported numerous civic contributions to both the University and to the city of Bethlehem. Prior to its opening in 1942, he provided the funds to construct Grace Hall, which today serves as home to Lehigh’s women’s volleyball and the nationally-renowned wrestling program.
“When I first visited Lehigh on my recruiting trip I saw an old, beat-up kind of gym and they told me it was Grace Hall,” senior wrestler Ryan Bernholtz said in 2001. “The next fall when I was a freshman, I saw the ‘Snake Pit’ come alive. I was like, ‘Oh my God. This old gym can really pack them in. It’s really loud.’’ You feed off the atmosphere and you never want to lose there. There is a lot of history to Grace Hall.”
Born on August 27, 1876 in Cape May, New Jersey, Grace was the son of a sea captain. He married Marion Brown, daughter of Charles Brown, a South Bethlehem burgess who co-founded the Brown-Borhek lumber supply business. Together they had three children - a daughter, Emmeline, and two sons Charles Brown Grace and Eugene Grace Gifford Jr. Eugene Grace passed away on July 7, 1960 and was survived by two grandsons, Charles Grace Jr. and Eugene Grace.
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