Tom Churchill (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tom" Churchill, Sr. (1908–1963) was an American
star athlete in the 1920s who participated in the 1928 Summer Olympics
in Amsterdam
, Netherlands
as a decathlete, and was a multi-sport standout for the University of Oklahoma
between 1927–28 and 1929–30.
, Oklahoma
. He attended Central High School in Oklahoma City
where he has a successful sports career. Churchill participated on the football, track and field, baseball, basketball and swimming teams and was chosen as a scholastic All-American. He also earned all-state honors in both football and basketball, and he was considered the best all-around high school athlete in the state of Oklahoma.
in the fall of 1926, but due to collegiate athlete athletics rules at the time, freshmen were not allowed to play for their schools' varsity teams. He decided to box
for his first year and won titles in both light-heavyweight and heavyweight
classifications. When he became eligible to play for the school's sports teams as a sophomore
in 1927–28, Churchill played for the football
and basketball
teams and was selected to the All-Missouri Valley Conference
Team in basketball. That season, the basketball team finished 18–0 and were MVC champions. Even though he was a star athlete in multiple sports, basketball was considered his best sport.
event. He repeated as the Kansas Relays decathlon champion in 1929.
Churchill also qualified to participate in the 1928 Summer Olympics
as a member of the United States track and field team. In the field of 38 decathletes, Churchill finished in fifth place in the Olympic decathlon
competition.
in the fall of 1928 for his junior
year. While the football team only finished with a 5–3 record and finished third in the Big Six Conference (OU's new athletic conference as of that year), the basketball team had more success. For the second season in a row they were crowned conference champions as they finished with a 13–2 record. Churchill was once again named all-conference, and at the end of the season he was also honored as a consensus All-American
.
In 1929–30, his senior
year at Oklahoma, Churchill had the most success of his football career. Playing at the end position, and occasionally as a running back
, he was honored as an all-conference performer and was also named as a third-team All-American
by the United Press and NEA. He was invited to play in the East–West Shrine Game as well. In the winter, the basketball team failed to three-peat
as conference champions, and Churchill also failed to repeat as all-conference and All-American. In the springtime, however, he earned his lone varsity letter as a pitcher
for the baseball team
. The Sooners had great success that season and were crowned co-conference champions under head coach Lawrence Haskell
.
When Churchill's collegiate athletics career was over, he had earned 10 varsity letters in four sports, earned multiple all-conference selections and played on teams that won three total conference championships (not including boxing titles).
farm league. A damaged shoulder prematurely ended his career. Chuchill then went on to coach the University of New Mexico
men's basketball team for the 1931–32 and 1932–33 seasons.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
star athlete in the 1920s who participated in the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
as a decathlete, and was a multi-sport standout for the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
between 1927–28 and 1929–30.
Early life
Churchill was born in BlairBlair, Oklahoma
Blair is a town in Jackson County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 818 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Blair is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. He attended Central High School in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
where he has a successful sports career. Churchill participated on the football, track and field, baseball, basketball and swimming teams and was chosen as a scholastic All-American. He also earned all-state honors in both football and basketball, and he was considered the best all-around high school athlete in the state of Oklahoma.
Early OU days
Churchill enrolled at the University of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
in the fall of 1926, but due to collegiate athlete athletics rules at the time, freshmen were not allowed to play for their schools' varsity teams. He decided to box
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
for his first year and won titles in both light-heavyweight and heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
classifications. When he became eligible to play for the school's sports teams as a sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
in 1927–28, Churchill played for the football
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
and basketball
Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball
-1908-1980:The Sooners enjoyed moderate success on the court during this era, posting only 16 losing records in their first 72 seasons. They were coached by 9 different coaches during this period, beginning with Bennie Owen , and ending with Dave Bliss in 1980...
teams and was selected to the All-Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
Team in basketball. That season, the basketball team finished 18–0 and were MVC champions. Even though he was a star athlete in multiple sports, basketball was considered his best sport.
1928 Summer Olympics
In the spring of 1928, Churchill won the Kansas Relays' decathlonDecathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
event. He repeated as the Kansas Relays decathlon champion in 1929.
Churchill also qualified to participate in the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
as a member of the United States track and field team. In the field of 38 decathletes, Churchill finished in fifth place in the Olympic decathlon
Athletics at the 1928 Summer Olympics – Men's decathlon
The men's decathlon event at the 1928 Olympic Games took place between August 4 & August 5.-100 metres:-Long jump:-Shot put:-High jump:-400 metres:-110 metre hurdles:-Discus throw:-Pole vault:-Javelin throw:-1500 metres:...
competition.
Later OU days
Churchill returned to NormanNorman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
in the fall of 1928 for his junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
year. While the football team only finished with a 5–3 record and finished third in the Big Six Conference (OU's new athletic conference as of that year), the basketball team had more success. For the second season in a row they were crowned conference champions as they finished with a 13–2 record. Churchill was once again named all-conference, and at the end of the season he was also honored as a consensus All-American
1929 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1929 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of two major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Helms Athletic Foundation, College Humor Magazine and the Christy...
.
In 1929–30, his senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
year at Oklahoma, Churchill had the most success of his football career. Playing at the end position, and occasionally as a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, he was honored as an all-conference performer and was also named as a third-team All-American
1929 College Football All-America Team
The 1929 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 1929 college football season...
by the United Press and NEA. He was invited to play in the East–West Shrine Game as well. In the winter, the basketball team failed to three-peat
Three-peat
Three-peat is a contraction of the words three and repeat, which has been trademarked for commercial use by retired basketball coach Pat Riley; the active trademarks in force are registered under numbers 1552980, 1878690, and 1886018...
as conference champions, and Churchill also failed to repeat as all-conference and All-American. In the springtime, however, he earned his lone varsity letter as a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the baseball team
Oklahoma Sooners baseball
Oklahoma Sooners baseball is the NCAA Division I collegiate baseball team of the University of Oklahoma based in Norman, Oklahoma.The Oklahoma Baseball tradition is long and storied, with two National Championships in 1951 and 1994, along with numerous All-Americans...
. The Sooners had great success that season and were crowned co-conference champions under head coach Lawrence Haskell
Lawrence Haskell
Lawrence E. "Jap" Haskell was an American university administrator, baseball coach, and football coach. He served as the head baseball coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1927 to 1941. During his tenure, the Sooners won 176 games and eight conference championships...
.
When Churchill's collegiate athletics career was over, he had earned 10 varsity letters in four sports, earned multiple all-conference selections and played on teams that won three total conference championships (not including boxing titles).
Professional baseball and coaching
After college, Churchill signed a contract with the New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
farm league. A damaged shoulder prematurely ended his career. Chuchill then went on to coach the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
men's basketball team for the 1931–32 and 1932–33 seasons.