M Club Spotlight: Doug Lawrence
Michael Rovetto, Staff Writer
9/9/2024
Former Maryland football standout Doug Lawrence joked that he was turning Nittany Lion territory into Maryland country. With the gift of a memorable Terpsville gameday experience, he undoubtedly created an unforgettable Saturday on Aug. 31 for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania youth.
Lawrence is a former defensive back and return man who was a three-year letterman for the Terps in the early ‘90s. He ranks in the top-15 in program history for career kick returns and return yardage. However, after football, Lawrence served as the Lead Investigator and Senior Investigator in The District for different agencies for nearly 25 years while implementing, mentoring and leading respective internship programs.
He later co-founded True Colors, also known as ‘Me, Enhanced by We,’ with his brother, Kevin Lawrence. True Colors is an education program for middle and high school students focusing on career pathways and college readiness. Doug even launched a writing career, releasing several books over the years.
But he stood steadfast to his roots while in attendance for Maryland’s 50-7 win over UConn with over a dozen students and staff from the Harrisburg Boys and Girls Club on Young Terps Day.
“For me, it's always special when I have an opportunity to bring students or youth to the University of Maryland,” Lawrence said. “The joy on the faces of the youth was so special. It was like magic to those youths.”
Although providing a unique opportunity for the kids was a primary focus, the gameday experience had a deeper meaning to Lawrence. As a child, he was also part of the Harrisburg Boys and Girls Club, where he formed a relationship with Lionel Duffin, one of the counselors. Duffin served as a coach, role model and father figure to Lawrence.
Last year, Lawrence was a guest speaker at the club in conjunction with his True Colors program. When he arrived on the grounds he had previously walked, he couldn’t believe who he saw. He saw Duffin, his mentor, and realized he was still a counselor after nearly 50 years of service.
“We decided that night that we wanted to do something special for the youth at the Harrisburg Boys and Girls Club because they need funding and activities and programs,” Lawrence said. “It was also in appreciation for my counselor, Lionel Duffin. … He's an example of doing what's right, and we wanted to give back in a similar manner.”
I was very pleased with the M Club. The Pinkner Terrace experience is unique because the view of the stadium is great, and you get a chance to watch the pregame, which was a really cool experience. … Maryland also has an amazing array of vendors and food there to choose from. The youth really enjoyed the options that were available for them.Doug Lawrence
Lawrence, a member of the M Club and a football season ticket holder for the past 15 years, suggested taking the children in the boys' and girls' club to a Maryland Terrapins game. He was made aware of the VIP Pinkner Terrace Access opportunity and thought it was perfect for the kids.
He brought over a dozen students and administrators, including Duffin, to the UConn game, and the group was given unique access while there. They watched the team warm up from the terrace, and as the game went on, the group moved to the endzone level for a closer view. They also got to go on the field after the game.
However, according to Lawrence, the best moment was when rapper Wale took a photo with the kids from the Harrisburg Boys and Girls Club.
“I was very pleased with the M Club,” Lawrence said. “The Pinkner Terrace experience is unique because the view of the stadium is great, and you get a chance to watch the pregame, which was a really cool experience. … Maryland also has an amazing array of vendors and food there to choose from. The youth really enjoyed the options that were available for them.”
Duffin was 18 when he began counseling at the Harrisburg Boys and Girls Club in 1977. Eight years later, Lawrence was a young track and field athlete when Duffin, his coach, convinced him to join an all-star team. The team ended up qualifying for the Junior Olympics in Iowa.
Lawrence recalls traveling to Towson, Maryland, with Coach Duff to qualify for the Junior Olympics. However, he never got to compete in Iowa because of an injury sustained when he visited his brother at college.
“I was playing basketball with him, and I ended up spraining my ankle so badly that I couldn’t run,” Lawrence said. “Because I had qualified for the Junior Olympics, he allowed me to attend the meet anyway. I always thought his character and commitment to the youth were very genuine. I wanted to pay it forward and give it back.”
Duffin’s commitment to the youth also inspired Lawrence’s True Colors organization. The program's three goals are to inform, inspire and improve. The organization has hosted local college visits to Penn State, Shippensburg and Millersville University. They’ve toured Philadelphia area schools, including Temple, Villanova and Penn. In the DMV, the program visited Howard and Morgan State University.
“Giving the youth an opportunity to explore and see things outside their community is important to us,” Lawrence said. “I think that Saturday was one of my most memorable moments. … I think it's something that the kids will always remember.”
He continued. “I just want to thank the M Club and the University of Maryland for making it special,” Lawrence said. “To bring youth from Harrisburg to Maryland meant a lot to me.”
