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OCTOBER 2021 29 for the opportunity, but still felt motivated to continue building a successful program. As Connor considered his favorite col- lege memories, he did not remember many goals scored but clearly remembers fail- ures, a trait that he believes is part of being a winner. Losing NCAAs in 1971 still stands out in Connor's mind. "Those types of memories can help you learn just as much," he shared. He loved making plays and assisting on goals, and is thankful for the lifelong friendships. Academically, Connor chose to pursue a degree in psychology and graduated in four years. Although he hadn't planned a career direction, he wanted to stay involved in lacrosse and coached at Loyola Univer- sity for eight years. He was able to stay in the game and "got a bunch of guys to stay close and work hard." At Loyola, he helped guide the team to a runner-up finish in the 1981 NCAA Division II Tournament and was awarded the Kraus Award as Coach of the Year in Division II. While continuing on a lacrosse path, he earned a master's degree in business. He received a referral from marketing profes- sors to go into a startup company making vinyl windows and grew that company for the next 12 years. Once the company no longer needed marketing managers and Connor was let go, he evaluated his strengths and weaknesses, and wanted to learn more about quality win- dows, so he became a trainer for BGE Home. He then bought into J.W. Calvert Manufactur- ing Co., a home improvement firm based in Baldwin, Md. He enjoyed his profession for the next 20 years until his retirement. Connor said, summing up his career, "You learn, you earn, and then you yearn." Today, he enjoys watching his grandchil- dren learn the game of lacrosse. Connor was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1995. Ahead of the ceremony, USA Lacrosse put together a book, and Connor was featured with a historical ac- count of his memoirs and anecdotes. Connor's family is well known in the lacrosse world. His two uncles were also inducted into the National Hall of Fame, another uncle helped start lacrosse at Brown, and his dad played at St. Paul's and Loyola College. Connor is very proud of the current Vir- ginia men's lacrosse program and its 2021 national championship. Recently, Head Coach Lars Tiffany had his team read Outli- ers: The Story of Success, which references the need for 10,000 hours to master any- thing. Connor believes he did accomplish about that many hours in lacrosse over the years. He quips, "God bless lacrosse and all it has taught and given me." — Jess Armistead Connor was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1995. He's now retired after spending more than three decades in the home improvement industry. (Photo courtesy Connor family)