Lisle "Liz" Blackbourn impacted Wisconsin state sports at several levels. Among the first of Lawrence Universities many great football players, he earned "all-state" honors three times.

Blackbourn went on to become something of a coaching legend himself. He spent twenty-two years at Washington High School in Milwaukee, compiling a 141-30-6 record. He also coached at the University of Wisconsin and Marquette University. He coached the MU football team from 1950-53. He then was tapped to coach the Green Bay Packers.

He spent four years (1954-57) as the Green Bay head coach and was responsible for drafting such Packer greats as quarterback Bart Starr, running backs Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor, and linebacker Ray Nitschke. Blackbourn returned to Marquette after his days in Green Bay and coached his last two football seasons at the school. He died in 1983 in his hometown of Lancaster, Wisconsin.