James M. Lampe Sr., 69, a leader in the athletic turf surfacing industry.

JIM LAMPE was an outstanding three-letter athlete at William Penn Charter School who went on to a career laying the kind of turf he once trampled with cleats and sneaks.

After his athletic career, which included playing baseball in the Mets farm system, Jim became a leader in companies that produce such products as Astroturf for playing fields.

James M. Lampe Sr., who tore up the turf at his alma mater Penn Charter in four years as a star football running back and baseball infielder and also starred as a guard on the basketball team, died April 14 of complications of diabetes. He was 69 and was living in Spokane, Wash., but formerly lived in the Philadelphia area.

After his athletic career, which also included coaching youth football and baseball, Jim started in the athletic-surfacing industry, first as a distributor for Astroturf for Monsanto Corp. in the 1970s. He then formed his own company, Lampe and Associates, and was also associated with SpectraTurf, General Acrylics and Balsam America before his retirement in 2012.

A fellow member of the William Penn Charter Class of '64 was David Montgomery, part-owner, chairman and CEO of the Phillies, who said Jim was a "fierce competitor, but a consummate teammate."

"He was such a likable guy," Montgomery said. "He was the be-all-and-end-all, but he didn't see himself that way. He wore it well."

Retired Daily News sports writer Ted Silary, who graduated from Penn Charter in '69, said Jim was "one of my earliest sports heroes."

"He was an incredible athlete/gentleman," Silary said. "He was right in our gym, right outside in our fields, and when we'd see him walking through the hallway, he'd always take time to say hello and ask us how things were going for us."

Jim was part of 10 championship teams at Penn Charter - in baseball, basketball and football. He earned first-team honors in each sport and was named to the first all-scholastic team picked by the Evening Bulletin.

Jim signed with the Mets right after graduation in 1964 as a "bonus baby," meaning he got a sizable bonus for signing up. He played third base with Mets farm teams, including Williamsport in the Class AA Eastern League. Although he batted .223, he hit 12 homers and had 38 RBI. However, his career was shortened by Achilles' injuries.

Jim enjoyed coaching youngsters. He coached the Little Quakers football team and also spent a few years coaching Penn Charter's rival, Germantown Academy, in baseball. He took the team to the Inter-Ac title.

Jim was born in Philadelphia to William and Anne Lampe, and raised in Roxborough.

He was proud of his playing days and was rarely seen without his Mets cap and Penn Charter shirt.

"He never forgot where he came from," said his son, James M. Lampe Jr. "He was a people person. Throughout his career, he always took good care of the people who worked for him."

His son continued: "Jim's business career spanned five decades, and his main goal was always to promote product safety and customer service first. He was a respected leader in the industries he served.

"Jim will be missed but never forgotten for many reasons, above all his care for others and always putting people first, ahead of his own needs."

Besides his son, he is survived by a daughter, Kristen; a sister, Sally; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Services: Memorial service at 4 p.m. June 26 at the William Penn Charter School, 3000 W. School House Lane. Donations in his memory may be made to the William Penn Charter Scholarship Fund.