Joseph H. Thompson
 |
|
1909 photo of Joe Thompson during his Pitt coaching years
|
|
| Nickname(s) | "Colonel Joe" |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | September 26, 1871 |
| Place of birth | Kilkeel, County Down, Ireland |
| Date of death | February 1, 1928 (aged 56) |
| Place of death | Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Halfback/Head Coach |
| College |
Geneva College Western University (PA) |
| Career history | |
| As coach | |
| 1900–1902? | Geneva |
| 1909–1912 | Pittsburgh |
| As player | |
| 1900–1902? | Geneva |
| 1904–1906 | Western University (PA) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 U.S. Army
|
| Years of service | 1917–1918 |
| Rank |
 Lt. Colonel
|
| Unit | 110th Infantry, 28th Division |
| Battles/wars |
World War I Mexican Border Western Front |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Medal Croix de Guerre Purple Heart |
| Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 47th district |
|
|
In office 1913–1916 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Republican |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Joseph "Colonel Joe" Henry Thompson (September 26, 1871 – February 1, 1928) was a highly decorated World War I veteran, recipient of the Medal of Honor, lawyer, Pennsylvania state senator, head football coach of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers, and College Football Hall of Fame inductee.
Thompson came to the United States from Ireland in 1898 at the age of 18 and entered Geneva College that year. He immediately became a basketball star and also participated in gymnastics and wrestling, but did not go out for football until 1900. He served as Geneva’s player-coach for three years, with his football teams compiling a 27-2-3 record.
Thompson continued his education at the University of Pittsburgh, then called the Western University of Pennsylvania, where he played football from 1904 and 1906, during which time the Panthers compiled a 26-6 record. He captained the Pitt football team to its first perfect season in 1904 when the Panthers won all ten games and surrendered only one touchdown. Thompson graduated from Pitt in 1905 and continued on with post-graduate work in the School of Law completing his law degree. While at Pitt he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
Following graduation from Pitt's Law School, Thompson assumed the head coaching position at Pitt from 1909 to 1912 during which period he led Pitt to a 22-11-2 record. The highlight of his coaching tenure was the 1910 season in which Pitt went undefeated and unscored upon and was considered by many consider to be that season's National Champion. While compiling its 9-0 record, Pitt outscored its opponents 282-0. During this time, he attended Pitt's School of Law, graduating in 1909 and was admitted to the bar.
A song to Joe Thompson was written to honor him as football coach at Pitt. Entitled "Joe Thompson" it was sung to the tune of the American folk song "Old Black Joe" by Stephen Foster.
...
Wikipedia