When many people think of Colorado football, the law school isn’t necessarily what comes to mind. However, Fred Folsom (Colorado Law class of 1905), for whom Folsom Field was famously named, was a longtime law school faculty member and a distinguished jurist.
As the university’s second official head football coach, Folsom compiled a 77-23-2 record throughout his three different stints as head coach (1895-99, 1901-02, 1908-15). His 15 coaching seasons remain a school record, and his 77 wins stood as the most in school history for 78 years. Folsom’s success was one of the first major turning points for the football program, as it led to immediate recognition as a regional powerhouse.
In addition to his accomplishments as head football coach, Folsom taught at the law school from 1906- 1942. He gave up coaching to teach full time after the 1915 season. After service in World War I, where he attained the rank of Major and was the Judge Advocate for the 40th Division AEF in France, he resumed full time teaching. Folsom was Acting Dean for a year after Dean Fleming’s death and held the Charles Inglis Thomson Professorship until his retirement in 1942.
Professor Folsom’s accomplishments included founding the Moot Court program, serving as the University’s counsel, establishing the financing of the original Memorial Building and the football stadium, and creating the first of the present system of dormitories. His son, Fred G. Folsom Jr., also graduated from Colorado Law (’38) and had a distinguished career as an attorney for the Department of Justice.
Folsom passed away on November 11, 1944 at the age of 71. Shortly after, Colorado Stadium was renamed Folsom Field in his honor. The bust of Folsom outside of the stadium was commissioned by his son, Fred Folsom Jr., and created by Folsom’s grandson, Fred Folsom III. Folsom was inducted into the CU athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.