Lawrence James Fleming was born to Lawrence Joseph and Gladys Alberta (Crum) Fleming on July 24, 1932 in Phoenix, Arizona. He earned his LLB from the University of Arizona and was admitted to the Bar in 1956. For many years, he practiced law with the firm Shannon & Fleming. Lawrence Fleming was also interested in the history of Phoenix's street railway system and was active with the Arizona Street Railway Museum in addition to writing Ride a mile and smile the while: a history of the Phoenix Street Railway, 1887-1948 .
From the guide to the Preliminary Inventory of the Lawrence J. Fleming Papers, circa 1911-circa 2008, (Arizona State University Libraries Arizona Collection)