Earl “Tommy” Thomas
“Tommy” was Ashland High School’s outstanding all-around athlete of the early 1930’s, competing in four major sports, he earned fifteen out of a possible sixteen varsity letters, an astounding record, which with today’s greater specialization in sports participation will probably never be broken. In only one sport, football, did he fail to make a letter as a freshman, but from then on he was a regular, improving and developing each year to become a star in each major sport. He loved and lived athletics, but basketball was his favorite.
He led Ashland High to the semi-finals of the state tournament in Columbus in 1932, where he was selected All-Ohio center. He was All-NCO league center in 1932 and 1933, all-tournament center at Sandusky and Findlay the same years. In football he was All-NCO his senior year as offensive and defensive fullback. In track he competed usually in high jump, pole vault, and broad jump, but developed into a sprinter and hurdler his senior year, when he qualified for the state finals in the 100-yard dash. He also managed to set a pole vault record and was northwest district board broad jump champ.
“Tommy” ran back and forth from track practice to baseball practice, both held at old Myers Field behind the present Y.M.C.A. Playing first base, he hit .353 and field .938 as a senior.
Chosen to attend Ohio State as a basketball player, he was starting center for the Buckeyes for three years, and named All-Big Ten as a junior. He is a past president of the Cleveland chapter of the Ohio State Alumni Club, a member of the Board of Directors of the Alumni Club and Avon Oaks country club. Retired in 1983, Earl was regional sales manger for Penton Publishing Company.
Nominator: Paul Harmon
Presenter: Ardith Jordan
