Townies: Before Deffley, Stringfellow, Gorham, et al - there was Lou Farber. A Hall of Fame football coach, on both coasts.

Farber, a "Brown U Iron Man" coached 15 years at EP, winning 3 State Championships

Lou Farber coaching in Pueblo, Arizona.

Arizona Daily Star Photo Credit

Lou Farber Arizona Hall of Fame Photo

The 1926 Iron Men of Brown The only undefeated team in Brown history, the 1926 team earned even greater fame as the "Iron Men," so called because the starting 11 played 60 minutes without substitution on consecutive weeks against Yale and Dartmouth, and well into the fourth quarter against Harvard two weeks later. They lost their chance for an undefeated-untied season in the last game when Colgate earned a 10-10 deadlock. The team was ranked among the top nationally. Its members were Captain Hal Broda and Thurston Towle, ends; Ed Kevorkian and Paul Hodge, tackles; LOU FARBER and Orland Smith, guards; Charles Consodine, center; Red Randall, quarterback; Dave Mishel and Ed Lawrence, halfbacks; and Al Cornsweet, fullback.

Brown Photo

Posted Saturday, November 30, 2024 7:05 am

By Bob Rodericks

Few current East Providence High School student athletes, or adult fans, remember one of the school’s early football coaches who became one of the nation’s best. Lou Farber spanned a teaching & coaching career of over 50 years of high school football. Farber competed in football, basketball, track, and baseball in Pawtucket high school. After a year at Moses Brown, he entered Brown University, captained the freshman football team, and moved on to a brilliant varsity career as a defensive guard and offensive tackle. He is a 1929 Brown graduate.

Passing up a pro career with the Frankfort (Pa.) Yellowjackets of the NFL, Farber went into high school teaching and coaching, becoming head coach at East Providence High in 1935. In 15 seasons at EP, Farber compiled a winning record which included three state championships. Before teaching business and coaching at EP, Farber graduated from Brown where he played guard and was a member of Brown’s famous 1926 “Iron Men” football squad. The Brown Iron Men became widely popular on the national level. Farber and his Brown teammates were undefeated that year. After a legendary career at EPHS, Farber and family moved to Arizona for health reasons. Farber taught and coached football soon after arriving in Arizona. He became the first head coach at Pueblo High School in Tuscon, AZ when it opened in 1956. Farber was soon known as a national innovator and was a consultant for programs on all levels. Coaching initial Pueblo, AZ teams with limited talent, he won several state titles. He only experienced one losing season in 17 years of coaching in Arizona. The stadium at Pueblo High School is named Lou Farber Stadium. Farber is an inductee in the Halls of Fame at Brown, Arizona and EPHS. His Townie Pride traveled well.

Read about Coach Farber and other early Townie football coaches in the upcoming December issue of the East Providence Reporter.