- A transfer from Marshalltown Junior College, Lang proved early on he was going to be an asset to the Loras College basketball program. Once a member of the team, Lang averaged double digits in scoring for the Duhawks.
- Lang was the team captain his senior year and totaled 445 points and averaged 17 points per game. He was the recipient of the Delta Sigma Most Valuable Team Player award and trophy. A member of the 1,000-point club with a three-year total of 1,027 points, and still holds the record of most free throws attempted (248) in a season. Selected to all-Catholic Midwest Honors by the La Crosse Register, and was an Honorable Mention on the Brooklyn Tablet Catholic College All-American team for 1955.
- Taught and coached at Newman High School in Mason City for many years. He has also been involved with counseling positions related to hospitals, hospices and a halfway house for chemically dependent persons that he began.
- Lang was described as a (tough) player, at 6-foot-3 he was able to match up with any opponent. His toughness was shown though out his life and especially with his battle against Lymphoma cancer, in which he came out victorious.
Stories
During the 1954-1955 basketball season, the doctors were the real key players in my season—both Doc Kammer, Loras’ legendary trainer, as well as Dubuque’s Dr. Greteman. Doc Kammer’s “sure cure” for every ache and pain was the whirlpool with its hot swirling waters and his entertaining tales told in “Kammer-esque” style.
I was plagued off and on with lower back pain which Doc’s whirlpool was not fixing on one occasion, and I was off to Dr. Greteman for a shot of cortisone. Our game with Upper Iowa was scheduled to be played at Fayette on Friday evening and I saw no way that I would be able to play, but decided to accompany the team, duffle bag in tow. I did not dress for warm-ups but watched from the bench as the time clock ticked away the minutes. At half-time I felt good enough to ask Coach Vince Dowd whether or not I could dress and make an appearance in the second half. This met with his approval and during that half the basket seemed huge as almost every shot I took found its mark to the tune of some 35 points and a Loras victory. Teammates and foes thought I’d been faking the pain, but the “Docs” had performed their magic, much to my delight.
In the good old days the coaches piled the Loras players into their private family vehicles and drove to out-of-town games. During one memorable venture when four other players and I were riding with Coach Vince Dowd to Lewis College, we encountered some snow and ice covered roads. We were doing okay until we skidded on a curve and overturned. We landed back on our wheels on a driveway leading into a farm field, but we were stuck in deep snow. After some “@&*#%^,” sighs and gasps and realizing that we were evidently all alive and hopefully well, Coach Dowd in his droll, unassuming manner queried, “Would you boys try pushing us out of here?” This bought some welcome laughter to our frightened minds and bodies and out we scrambled.
Whether or not we won or lost that game I do not recall but we lived to show up to play it.
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I was a very young energetic freshman when I came to my first scrimmage with Loras varsity basketball team. From the point position I was racing to the basket and the next thing I remember I was sliding on the backside and landed with my back to the bleachers. When I came too, I remember a very large hand belonging to Mr. Ed Lang lifted me to my feet and said, “Welcome to the varsity team Tiny!” I replied, “Thank you Mr. Lang.” From that point forward Ed was my “guardian.”
