Thomas Graydon
Encyclopedia
Thomas Hetherington "Blondy" Graydon (March 30, 1881 - October 1949) was an All-American football
player. While attending Harvard, he was selected as fullback
on the All-American teams of 1901
and 1902
.
who had emigrated to the United States from Ireland in 1868. Graydon's father later became a prominent Republican politician and manufacturer of patent medicines.
Graydon was educated in the private schools of Cincinnati and at St. Paul's School
in Concord, New Hampshire
, from which he graduated in 1899.
. He played fullback on the Harvard football team in 1900, 1901 and 1902. He was selected by Walter Camp
as an All-American at that position in 1901 and 1902. His brother, Joseph Graydon, played end for Harvard.
In February 1902, Graydon gained publicity for his participation in a charity performance with the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Some Harvard athletes engaged in a burlesque polo match, and Graydon engaged in a tumbling routine while dressed "in resplendent pink tights."
After the completion of his education, published accounts differ as to Graydon's professional career. According to contemporaneous press accounts, Graydon trained as a cobbler in Cincinnati after graduating from Harvard—hoping to learn the shoe business. He later became manager for a shoe company.
According to a later-published social history of Cincinnati, Graydon returned to Cincinnati after graduating from Harvard, where he accepted a position in the bookkeping department of The Macdonald-Kiley Company. The latter publication states that Graydon was appointed as a vice president of the company after three years and as president of the company at age 28 in 1909. Under Graydon's leadership, the latter publication states that the company employed 200 men and 50 women and sold goods throughout the United States.
In 1909, the couple garnered national press attention again when Mrs. Gradyon sued for divorce, alleging that her husband failed to support her. One press account of the trial reported on the testimony of Graydon's wife and father-in-law:
On April 6, 1910 a decree of divorce was granted.
, Graydon enlisted and was sent to the Plattsburg training camp. After training he was commissioned captain of the 303rd Machine Gun Company, and was sent to Camp Devens. Graydon left for France on July 4, 1917, with the 76th Division. Later he was transferred to the 3rd Division and was placed in command of Company B of the Seventh Machine Gun battalion. He saw action at the Battle of Château-Thierry
where his machine gun battalion bore the brunt of the fighting. After the Armistice was signed he became part of the army of occupation and was the first Harvard man to reach the Rhine. He returned to the United States on April 8, 1919 and received his honorable discharge.
Graydon and his third wife died when their automobile was involved in a collision with a passenger bus near Westfield, Indiana
in October 1949 while the two were returning from Santa Monica, California
to their home in New York.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. While attending Harvard, he was selected as fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
on the All-American teams of 1901
1901 College Football All-America Team
The 1901 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that chose College Football All-America Teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams included Collier's Weekly selected by Walter Camp.-Key:...
and 1902
1901 College Football All-America Team
The 1901 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that chose College Football All-America Teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams included Collier's Weekly selected by Walter Camp.-Key:...
.
Early years
Graydon was the son of Ann H. Graydon and Dr. Thomas W. Graydon. His father was a doctor in Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
who had emigrated to the United States from Ireland in 1868. Graydon's father later became a prominent Republican politician and manufacturer of patent medicines.
Graydon was educated in the private schools of Cincinnati and at St. Paul's School
St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire)
St. Paul's School is a highly selective college-preparatory, coeducational boarding school in Concord, New Hampshire affiliated with the Episcopal Church. The school is one of only six remaining 100% residential boarding schools in the U.S. The New Hampshire campus currently serves 533 students,...
in Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
, from which he graduated in 1899.
All-American at Harvard
In the fall of 1899, Graydon entered Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He played fullback on the Harvard football team in 1900, 1901 and 1902. He was selected by Walter Camp
Walter Camp
Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football...
as an All-American at that position in 1901 and 1902. His brother, Joseph Graydon, played end for Harvard.
In February 1902, Graydon gained publicity for his participation in a charity performance with the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Some Harvard athletes engaged in a burlesque polo match, and Graydon engaged in a tumbling routine while dressed "in resplendent pink tights."
Marriage and professional life
Graydon married Helen Beryl Whitney, the daughter of San Francisco millionaire, J. Parker Whitney. The two became engaged when Whitney was between thirteen and fifteen years old and eloped in 1903. Their "Romeo and Juliet" romance, in which Graydon helped his bride escape from a New York boarding school, garnered national media attention. One Boston newspaper reported:"The young couple have known each other very well for years. The groom was a roommate of the bride's brother at Harvard; and the blonde fullback whose plays on the gridirons at Cambridge and New Haven were acclaimed by thousands of admirers, has long been known to the Whitneys as 'Tommy' ... She was about the age of 15 when she met and fell in love with 'Tommy' Graydon ... It was impossible from the first day for any observer not to see they were desperately in love with each other."
After the completion of his education, published accounts differ as to Graydon's professional career. According to contemporaneous press accounts, Graydon trained as a cobbler in Cincinnati after graduating from Harvard—hoping to learn the shoe business. He later became manager for a shoe company.
According to a later-published social history of Cincinnati, Graydon returned to Cincinnati after graduating from Harvard, where he accepted a position in the bookkeping department of The Macdonald-Kiley Company. The latter publication states that Graydon was appointed as a vice president of the company after three years and as president of the company at age 28 in 1909. Under Graydon's leadership, the latter publication states that the company employed 200 men and 50 women and sold goods throughout the United States.
In 1909, the couple garnered national press attention again when Mrs. Gradyon sued for divorce, alleging that her husband failed to support her. One press account of the trial reported on the testimony of Graydon's wife and father-in-law:
"Idleness, dissipation and neglect on the part of Graydon entered into her disillusionment, she explained, and he had allowed his business in Cincinnati to dwindle away until it did not bring enough revenue to provide for her support, she said. According to Mrs. Graydon, selling shoes proved less attractive to her husband than bucking the line of Yale in football scrimmages, and his experience as a business man was marked by none of the eclat that distinguished his career on the gridiron. Mrs. Graydon's testimony was short, and her only witness was her father, J. Parker Whitney, whose millions she will inherit. ... When asked about the character of his son-in-law, Whitney was too chivalrous to say anything to his disparagement. 'He's a really good fellow,' said Whitney, 'but as a business man he's impossible.'"
On April 6, 1910 a decree of divorce was granted.
Military service
When the United States entered World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Graydon enlisted and was sent to the Plattsburg training camp. After training he was commissioned captain of the 303rd Machine Gun Company, and was sent to Camp Devens. Graydon left for France on July 4, 1917, with the 76th Division. Later he was transferred to the 3rd Division and was placed in command of Company B of the Seventh Machine Gun battalion. He saw action at the Battle of Château-Thierry
Battle of Château-Thierry (1918)
The Battle of Château-Thierry was fought on 18 July 1918 and was one of the first actions of the American Expeditionary Force under General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing...
where his machine gun battalion bore the brunt of the fighting. After the Armistice was signed he became part of the army of occupation and was the first Harvard man to reach the Rhine. He returned to the United States on April 8, 1919 and received his honorable discharge.
Later years
Graydon was married three times. His second wife was Mary Andrews, and his third wife was Marian MacAdams of New York City. Graydon was married to his third wife for 20 years starting in 1929. Graydon was affiliated with the Episcopal church, the Business Men's Club, Harvard Club and Phi Delta Psi fraternity, which he joined while in college.Graydon and his third wife died when their automobile was involved in a collision with a passenger bus near Westfield, Indiana
Westfield, Indiana
Westfield is a city in Hamilton County, Indiana, United States. In the year 2010 United States Census, the population was 30,068. Westfield is in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area.- History :...
in October 1949 while the two were returning from Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
to their home in New York.
See also
- 1901 College Football All-America Team1901 College Football All-America TeamThe 1901 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that chose College Football All-America Teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams included Collier's Weekly selected by Walter Camp.-Key:...
- 1902 College Football All-America Team1902 College Football All-America TeamThe 1902 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1902 college football season...