Tom Slade

Thomas A. Slade (April 6, 1952 – November 12, 2006) was an American football quarterback who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines football team from 1971-73.

Slade was born in Manotick, Michigan, but was raised in Saginaw, Michigan after being adopted. He played football, basketball and tennis for Saginaw High School and earned All-State honors in football as the quarterback at Saginaw High. Slade was married to former University of Michigan cheerleader, Pam St. John. He had two children, Andrew and Spencer from a previous marriage.

After graduating from Saginaw High in 1970, Slade attended the University of Michigan where he played quarterback under coach Bo Schembechler. As a sophomore in 1971, Slade helped lead the 1971 team to an undefeated 11-0 record in the regular season. The Wolverines narrowly missed a national championship that year, losing the 1972 Rose Bowl game, 13-12, on a late field goal by Stanford. More than for his passing, Slade was known for being a tough run-blocker who cleared the way for Billy Taylor and the other Wolverine running backs after he handed the ball off. Dennis Franklin took over as quarterback in 1972, and Slade spent his junior and senior years as a backup for Franklin.

After graduating from U-M, Slade returned to attend the U-M School of Dentistry and received a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1978. He taught at the U-M School of Dentistry for three years before starting his own practice in 1981 in nearby Ypsilanti Township, Michigan. Coach Schembechler was one of his dental clients. Slade was also the dentist for the Eastern Michigan University athletic teams.

Slade also worked as a color analyst for Michigan football broadcasts on WUOM-FM.

In his spare time, Slade was a Michigan High School Athletic Association basketball official and officiated numerous state finals. He also served as a Big Ten and Mid-American Conference women’s basketball official. He was active in the Ypsilanti Area Chamber of Commerce and served a three-year term as the president of the EMU Baseball "Dugout Club."

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