Jack Tompkins
Encyclopedia
Jack A. Tompkins was an American baseball and ice hockey player, airline executive and civic leader in Detroit, Michigan
. As a high school student in Royal Oak, Michigan
, he won 27 consecutive baseball games as a pitcher, still a Michigan high school record. At the University of Michigan
, he was captain of the baseball and hockey teams in 1932. He worked for more than 30 years for American Airlines
in Detroit and became a civic leader in the area, working to bring the Olympic Games to Detroit from the 1940s to the 1960s and founding the Great Lakes Invitational
hockey tournament in 1965. He was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
in 1982.
. Competing for Royal Oak High School from 1925-1927 Tompkins set a state high school record with 27 consecutive wins, still the record recognized by the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
where he was a star athlete as a pitcher in baseball and a goaltender in ice hockey. He played every minute of every game during his three years on the Wolverines hockey team and was elected captain as a senior in the 1931-1932 season. Michigan won the Big Ten Conference hockey championship in Tompkins' sophomore and junior years, and Tompkins was an All-American in his senior year. He was also named to the All-American Collegiate Hockey team on three occasions. In baseball, Tompkins was a three-year player as a pitcher. He was named captain of the Michigan baseball team in 1932, making him the first Michigan athlete to be elected captain of two different varsity sports teams in the same year.
farm club and professional hockey in the International and National Leagues under contract with the Detroit Red Wings
.
In 1935, Tompkins began a career with American Airlines
, the company for which he continued to work for more than 30 years. He was the Detroit area manager for the airline. In 1945, Tompkins led the effort to have the Civil Aeronautics Board designate Detroit as one of six American cities to be terminals for flights to the major cities of Europe. Tompkins announced that American Airlines would provide service to Norway, Sweden, Helsinki, Leningrad, Moscow, Glasgow, London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Berlin and the Azores.
In 1946, Tompkins was appointed to the committee responsible for bringing the Olympic Games to Detroit. Over the next 20 years, Tompkins traveled the world lobbying IOC officials to bring the Olympics to Detroit.
Tompkins also served numerous community organizations, including the boards of the Detroit Convention and Tourist Bureau, the Boy Scouts of America
, the Boys' Committee of Detroit, Economic Club of Detroit, the Downtown Property Owners Association, the Washington Boulevard Association and Travelers' Aid Society. He was the chairman of Detroit's International Air Fairs in 1950, 1951, and 1952, a board member for the Michigan Aeronautics and Space Association, a trustee of the Michigan Aviation Foundation, and a member of the Aviation Advisory Committee of the Detroit Board of Commerce. In 1971, he was elected vice president of the University of Michigan graduate "M" Club.
In 1965, Tompkins co-founded the Great Lakes Invitational
hockey tournament. At that time, only one American played a significant role on any NHL team. Seeking to improve the prospects for Americans to play in the NHL, a group led by Tompkins, Michigan Tech's legendary hockey coach John MacInnes
, and Olympia Stadium manager Lincoln Cavalieri, and Detroit Red Wings
's scout Jack Paterson decided to organize a prestigious hockey tournament to be played every year in Detroit. Since 1965, the tournament has been held every year in Detroit between Christmas and New Year's.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. As a high school student in Royal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 57,236. It should not be confused with Royal Oak Charter Township, a separate community located nearby....
, he won 27 consecutive baseball games as a pitcher, still a Michigan high school record. At the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, he was captain of the baseball and hockey teams in 1932. He worked for more than 30 years for American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
in Detroit and became a civic leader in the area, working to bring the Olympic Games to Detroit from the 1940s to the 1960s and founding the Great Lakes Invitational
Great Lakes Invitational
The Great Lakes Invitational is a four-team NCAA men's ice hockey tournament held annually at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit between Christmas and New Year as part of College Hockey at The Joe....
hockey tournament in 1965. He was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
The University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, founded in 1978, recognizes University of Michigan athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs...
in 1982.
Youth in Royal Oak, Michigan
Tompkins was raised in Royal Oak, MichiganRoyal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 57,236. It should not be confused with Royal Oak Charter Township, a separate community located nearby....
. Competing for Royal Oak High School from 1925-1927 Tompkins set a state high school record with 27 consecutive wins, still the record recognized by the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
University of Michigan
In the fall of 1928, Tompkins enrolled at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
where he was a star athlete as a pitcher in baseball and a goaltender in ice hockey. He played every minute of every game during his three years on the Wolverines hockey team and was elected captain as a senior in the 1931-1932 season. Michigan won the Big Ten Conference hockey championship in Tompkins' sophomore and junior years, and Tompkins was an All-American in his senior year. He was also named to the All-American Collegiate Hockey team on three occasions. In baseball, Tompkins was a three-year player as a pitcher. He was named captain of the Michigan baseball team in 1932, making him the first Michigan athlete to be elected captain of two different varsity sports teams in the same year.
Professional career and community service
After graduating from Michigan, Tompkins played professional baseball for several years with a Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
farm club and professional hockey in the International and National Leagues under contract with the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
.
In 1935, Tompkins began a career with American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
, the company for which he continued to work for more than 30 years. He was the Detroit area manager for the airline. In 1945, Tompkins led the effort to have the Civil Aeronautics Board designate Detroit as one of six American cities to be terminals for flights to the major cities of Europe. Tompkins announced that American Airlines would provide service to Norway, Sweden, Helsinki, Leningrad, Moscow, Glasgow, London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Berlin and the Azores.
In 1946, Tompkins was appointed to the committee responsible for bringing the Olympic Games to Detroit. Over the next 20 years, Tompkins traveled the world lobbying IOC officials to bring the Olympics to Detroit.
Tompkins also served numerous community organizations, including the boards of the Detroit Convention and Tourist Bureau, the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, the Boys' Committee of Detroit, Economic Club of Detroit, the Downtown Property Owners Association, the Washington Boulevard Association and Travelers' Aid Society. He was the chairman of Detroit's International Air Fairs in 1950, 1951, and 1952, a board member for the Michigan Aeronautics and Space Association, a trustee of the Michigan Aviation Foundation, and a member of the Aviation Advisory Committee of the Detroit Board of Commerce. In 1971, he was elected vice president of the University of Michigan graduate "M" Club.
In 1965, Tompkins co-founded the Great Lakes Invitational
Great Lakes Invitational
The Great Lakes Invitational is a four-team NCAA men's ice hockey tournament held annually at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit between Christmas and New Year as part of College Hockey at The Joe....
hockey tournament. At that time, only one American played a significant role on any NHL team. Seeking to improve the prospects for Americans to play in the NHL, a group led by Tompkins, Michigan Tech's legendary hockey coach John MacInnes
John MacInnes
John J. MacInnes was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender and NCAA hockey head coach. He was born in Toronto, Ontario.-Playing career:...
, and Olympia Stadium manager Lincoln Cavalieri, and Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
's scout Jack Paterson decided to organize a prestigious hockey tournament to be played every year in Detroit. Since 1965, the tournament has been held every year in Detroit between Christmas and New Year's.