Rolla Bigelow
Rolla Bigelow | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Corunna, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | December 16, 1952 (aged 74) |
| Occupation(s) | Football player, banker |
| Known for | Member of Michigan "Point-a-Minute" football teams; founder of Bigelow & Co. and Bigelow State Bank (later Eastern Exchange Bank) |
Robert Lavante "Rolla" Bigelow (June 19, 1878 – December 16, 1952) was an American football athlete and banker. Originating from Shiawassee County, Michigan, he played collegiate football initially at Michigan Agricultural College in 1898 and subsequently at the University of Michigan during 1902 and 1903. Bigelow was a member of Fielding H. Yost's renowned "Point-a-Minute" squads that compiled a 22-0-1 record while outscoring opponents by a margin of 1,209 to 18 in those years. Later in life, he moved to New York where he founded the investment banking enterprise Bigelow & Co. in the 1910s. In 1921, he launched Bigelow State Bank, which later became known as Eastern Exchange Bank.
Early years
Bigelow was born in Corunna, Michigan in 1878 to parents Rolla P. Bigelow and Charlotte (Pratt) Bigelow, both originally from Michigan. His father’s occupations included working as a store clerk and subsequently as a commercial traveler. The family settled in Owosso, Michigan, where Rolla spent his childhood.
He commenced his college education at Michigan Agricultural College (present-day Michigan State University) and participated on their football team in 1898 before transferring to the University of Michigan.
University of Michigan
Upon transferring to the University of Michigan, Bigelow joined Fielding H. Yost's celebrated "Point-a-Minute" football teams. He served as a backup tackle during the undefeated 1902 squad that earned national championship honors. In the following year, 1903, he started two games playing at both halfback and fullback, scoring five touchdowns for another national title-winning team. He completed his studies with an engineering degree in 1905.
Banking career
Following his graduation, Bigelow pursued a career in banking in New York City. By 1911, he was employed at an office located at 49 Wall Street, and by 1918 he had established Bigelow & Co., an investment banking firm situated at 25 Pine Street.
In January of 1921, he founded Bigelow State Bank, a bank chartered under New York state law and based in Manhattan, where he held the position of president. The institution focused on serving individual customers with modest deposits and promoted itself as "the bank for the individual."
The bank underwent a name change to Eastern Exchange Bank in December 1924, with Bigelow maintaining his role as president. By November 1926, W. A. Harriman & Co. had acquired a significant stake while Bigelow continued to lead the bank. Eastern Exchange Bank specialized exclusively in personal deposit accounts, deliberately avoiding commercial banking activities and lending only against marketable securities. In May 1928, it moved its headquarters to the Harriman Building located at 37 Broadway.
Family and later years
In 1916, Bigelow married Doris Bissell. The couple had two children: a daughter named Betsy and a son named Robert Pratt Bigelow. According to the 1930 Census, he resided with his family and three servants in Woodsburgh, Nassau County, New York; his occupation was recorded as bank president.
After retiring from active business, Bigelow relocated to Winter Haven, Florida. He passed away at age 74 in an Orlando hospital in December 1952 after a brief illness. His estate was appraised at $517,713.