The Full Life of Ogdensburg Boxer Lem Collett

Boxing had its heyday during the 1920s and 1930s in Ogdensburg and across the nation and pugilists like Lem Collett, Rip Mashaw, Bobby Dean, and “Muff” Brenno fought at Floral Hall at the Old Fairgrounds on State St., the East End Arena (now NYSDOT), the Star Theater, the Armory, Seguin’s Rink in the fourth ward and City Hall. Boxing was so popular that both St. Mary’s Academy and OFA had boxing teams. General admission tickets cost 75 cents and ringside seats were $1.00. My great uncle Lem Collett was a downstate transplant who fought both in the amateur and professional rings in Syracuse, Utica, Albany and Ogdensburg.

With over 300 bouts between 1927 and 1929 Lemuel “Lem” Collett was recognized as an excellent boxer. Born in Scranton, PA and raised in Newark, New York, Collett was a well known boxer in Ogdensburg and surrounding communities. He was a finalist in the Golden Gloves Tournament in Madison Square Garden in 1928 and went on to fight professionally, retiring in 1930.

He married my grandmother’s sister, Marion Mills in 1929 in Ogdensburg and operated a farm (1930-1945) in Lisbon, but he never lost his love of boxing. Lem fought in over 300 fights and on more than one occasion fought with a broken hand. He was proud of his Golden Gloves bout at Madison Square Garden in 1929 against Al Stone, who went on to win in his division. Lem was crowned the upstate lightweight champion for New York State and welterweight champion of the state as well.

One fight he recalled was arranged by Father Bellamy of St. Mary’s Cathedral. The other fighter was billed as a champion from France. Lem was very nervous prior to the fight at St. Mary’s Parish Hall, but to Lem’s relief it took only 1 minute 10 seconds to knock the French champion down. Years later he laughed about his anxiety and learned to never overestimate an opponent again.

When he wasn’t boxing, he was working. He got a job at the Diamond National, where he suffered a severe head injury, which required surgery. After that his fighting days were over and he was unable to serve in World War II, although his dog did, but that’s another story. However, Lem continued to referee boxing matches throughout Northern New York and Canada. The Brockville Recorder-Times noted that he refereed 15 out of 16 bouts one night in Brockville with over 200 fighters participating in the two day event. Collett did a good job of “keeping the boys in line.”

When he wasn’t refereeing, he was a part-time St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputy on call 24 hours a day and opened a fuel oil business in 1945. Lem always had a cigar in the corner of his mouth and probably gave away more fuel oil than he sold, which drove Marion crazy. He continued to referee boxing matches throughout Northern New York and Canada until his death.

Tragically after attending an oil distributors meeting Oct.17, 1962, he and his friend, George Madden Jr. lost their lives in an automobile accident on the Canton Road when Lem was only 54 years old.There was talk at the time that the station wagon lost traction due to hundreds of frogs being on the road, although newspaper reports stated that there were leaves on the road as well. The vehicle went through the guard rails, down a 20 foot embankment, and flipped over in the Grasse River. Both men drowned. Lem left behind Marion, four children and his grandchildren.

Well known for his kindness toward others, Lem not only gave away fuel oil, but was involved in philanthropic activities. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, later becoming Grand Knight. He was also a governor of the Moose Lodge and a member of the Elks Lodge. Lem attended Notre Dame Church and was a member of the Holy Name Society. He loved to visit with people and always carried a stack of one dollar bills that he handed out. He didn’t live a long life, but he lived a full one.