Tom Leith

Last updated

Tom Leith
Biographical details
Born1888
Died(1960-08-24)August 24, 1960 (aged 71)
Playing career
Football
1906–1908 Michigan State Normal
1909 Syracuse
Baseball
c. 1907 Michigan State Normal
Track and field
c. 1907 Michigan State Normal
Position(s) Halfback, quarterback (football)
Pitcher (baseball)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1910Albion HS (MI)
1911–1912 Adrian
1913 Cleary
1914Mack Park Maroons
1915 Detroit University School (MI)
1920 Brighton HS (MI)
Basketball
1911–1913 Adrian
Track and field
1915–1916 Detroit University School (MI)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1911–1913 Adrian
Head coaching record
Overall4–9 (college basketball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
1 MIAA (1911)

Thomas S. Leith (1888 – August 24, 1960) was an American football, basketball, and track and field coach, athletics administrator, and politician. He was the head football coach at Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan for two seasons, from 1911 to 1912, compiling a record of 12–4. Leith was also the head basketball coach at Adrian from 1911 to 1913, tallying a mark of 4–9. He later served three terms as the mayor of Brighton, Michigan, and twice ran unsuccessfully for the Republican Party's nomination for the governor of Michigan.

Contents

Playing career

Leith was a star athlete while at Michigan State Normal College, now known as Eastern Michigan University. It was reported that he never lost a track event he competed in and was player-coach for the football team. [1] His athletic accomplishments earned him a scholarship to Syracuse University in 1909, where he was a member of the football, baseball, and track and field teams. Leith appeared in the season opener for the 1909 Syracuse Orangemen football team, substituting at quarterback late in the game against Hamilton. [2]

Coaching career

Leith returned to Michigan in 1910 to coach at the high school in Albion, Michigan. [3] The following year, he was hired at the athletic director at Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan. [4] His time as Adrian coach was marked with success but also mired in controversy. In 1911, the Adrian football team was forced to forfeit its win over Hillsdale due to ineligible players. Two of Adrian's star players were deemed academically ineligible by the Adrian faculty after it was determined they forged credits to gain admittance to the college. Within two minutes of the game's start, however, Leith ordered the two men in the game in order to stop Hillsdale from scoring. Leith only admitted to the ruse after severe cross-examination by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) board. [5] Adrian was expelled from the conference after the incident and was only invited back after Leith resigned in 1913. [6] Leith organized and held the first invitational track and field competition at a Michigan private college while at Adrian. [7]

In the fall of 1913, Leith coached the football team at Cleary Business College—now known as Cleary University—Ypsilanti, Michigan. [8] In 1914, he coached the Mack Park Maroons, who played the Detroit Heralds for the city championship of Detroit. [9] In early 1915, Leith was hired as track coach at the Detroit University School. [10] There he again became embroiled in an eligibility scandal. His team was denied entry to an invitational by the MIAA because one of his athletes was not eligible, but Leith contended that he would not have entered the athlete. [11] In 1920, he coached football at Brighton High School in Brighton, Michigan. [12]

Later career

Leith was involved in real estate in the Brighton area and, in 1921, opened the Michigan Military Academy in Island Lake. [13]

Leith served as mayor for the city of Brighton. winning reelection in 1949. He then campaigned for the 1950 Republican nomination for Governor of Michigan, his stated goals were "take state government out of the red and take the Reds out of state government." [14] Leith received 8,460 votes, just 1.52% of the total vote, losing to Harry Kelly.

Personal life

Leith married Ethel Duncan (1890–1982) in 1909, while they were students at Michigan State Normal College. They eloped and only told their families five months later. [15] The couple had two daughters, Dorothy Louise (1910–1973) and Clara Jean (1911–1982). [16] [17] [18]

Leith died on August 24, 1960, at age 71. [19] [20]

Head coaching record

College football

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs
Adrian Bulldogs (Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1911–1912)
1911 Adrian7–13–1T–1st
1912 Adrian 5–3
Adrian:12–4
Total:
      National championship        Conference title        Conference division title or championship game berth

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References

  1. ↑ "Tom Leith, Ypsilanti Normal Track Star Goes to Syracuse". Detroit Free Press. September 19, 1909. p. 22. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Clean Victory For "Tad" Jones' Boys". The Syracuse Herald . Syracuse, New York. September 26, 1909. p. 1B. Retrieved December 26, 2024– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  3. ↑ "Coach At Albion". The Lansing Journal . Lansing, Michigan. September 6, 1910. p. 4. Retrieved December 26, 2024– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  4. ↑ "As A Player Scout—Leith of Muskegon Wins Appointment as Athletic Director". The Evening Press . Grand Rapids, Michigan. June 16, 1911. p. 14. Retrieved December 26, 2024– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  5. ↑ "Actions of Adrian Causes Surprise". Lansing State Journal. November 25, 1911. p. 8. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Early Prospect Favor Olivet in M.I.A.A Race". The Detroit Times. September 16, 1913. p. 6. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Adrian to Hold Invitation Meet". Detroit Free Press. February 24, 1912. p. 2. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Punts and Passes Grabbed From Saturday's Games On University, College, and High School Gridiron". Detroit Times . Detroit, Michigan. October 6, 1913. p. 6. Retrieved December 26, 2024– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  9. ↑ "Heralds And Maroons Meet In Title Battle". Detroit Free Press . Detroit, Michigan. November 22, 1914. p. 19. Retrieved December 26, 2024– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  10. ↑ "Sporting Chatter". Detroit Times . Detroit, Michigan. February 9, 1915. p. 6. Retrieved December 26, 2024– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  11. ↑ "Leith States His Track Men Are Eligible". Detroit Free Press. April 20, 1916. p. 15. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Brighton Football Team to Be Coached by Leith". Lansing State Journal. October 12, 1920. p. 7. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Military Academy Build Building". Lansing State Journal. June 23, 1921. p. 7. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Hat in Ring". Lansing State Journal. September 8, 1949. p. 3. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Wedded in June, Just Told Of It". Detroit Free Press. October 12, 1909. p. 12. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Noted Brighton doctor, Dorothy Leith, dies". Livingston County Daily Press & Argus . Howell, Michigan. August 15, 1973. p. 12A. Retrieved December 26, 2024– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  17. ↑ "Area Obituaries; Ethel M. Leith". Livingston County Daily Press & Argus . Howell, Michigan. September 1, 1982. p. 5A. Retrieved December 26, 2024– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  18. ↑ "Death Notices; Leith". Detroit Free Press . Detroit, Michigan. December 14, 1982. p. 6B. Retrieved December 26, 2024– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  19. ↑ "Deaths; Leith". Detroit Free Press. August 25, 1960. p. 24. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Former Brighton Mayor Rites Held". The State Journal . Lansing, Michigan. United Press International. August 27, 1960. p. 2. Retrieved December 26, 2024– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
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