"Tommy" Thomson '20 Retires at Annapolis

One-time holder of a world track record and winner of an Olympic goldmedal, Earl "Tommy" Thomson '20 hasretired after 43 years of coaching track,the last 37 as head coach of the U.S.Naval Academy teams.

Tommy, the "dean" of the Navy's athletic staff, went to Annapolis in 1927after serving four years as an assistant atYale, one year as head coach at WestVirginia, and one year as a Dartmouthassistant. At Navy his track teams won150 victories against only 67 losses andtwo ties in outdoor dual and triangularmeets (not including this last season'srecord). Fourteen of Tommy's wins wereover arch-rival Army. In intercollegiateindoor competition, initiated in 1957 byNavy, the Thomson teams have takeneighteen out of thirty.

Tommy came to Dartmouth from his native Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada, via Southern California where he first learned to hurdle at Long Beach High School. At Dartmouth he was Coach Harry Hillman's pride and joy, and he won an impressive list of track honors. He took time out in 1918 to serve with the Royal Air Force in Canada, then returned to the College to captain the track forces. In the 1920 Olympic games, he took first in the 110-yard high hurdles and from 1920 to 1931 he was the holder of the world record in that event.

Between 1943 and 1946 Tommy's Navy teams won nineteen consecutive meets, three IC4A Championships, the Outdoor Heptagonals, and the 1945 NCAA track championship. In all, Tommy had four undefeated outdoor teams and one unbeaten indoor squad.

Tommy and his wife were married in 1922 and have three daughters and a son, Earl Jr. '49.

Track Coach Earl Thomson '20