No, the “L” in Robert L. Cullen does NOT stand for Lacrosse. But it should. Few have contributed as much time, energy, and innovation to the sport of lacrosse on the collegiate level as Robert Cullen has given.

Cullen played his college lacrosse at Hobart and graduated in 1937. He is remembered as a midfielder, “a very good player on some great teams.”

He coached a year at Fayetteville before heading for Ithaca where he transformed Cornell’s lacrosse program from a “carry-over sport” to national prominence as head freshman coach for eleven years and head varsity coach for four years. At Cornell, he introduced recruiting, established a full time assistant coach position, began a formal fall season program, a winter box lacrosse program and a scouting program of all opponents.

In the mid-1930’s Cullen officiated in the rough & tumble Box Lacrosse League and in numerous collegiate contests from 1940 to 1958. He was 73 years young when he officiated his last game in 1983.

Cullen’s love for the game inspired him to introduce the sport at Ithaca and Vestal High Schools where he ran clinics and donated equipment. He now lives in Ithaca, is married to the former Ursula Devaney of Geneva, has six children and 15 grandchildren.