Tom Churchill

Tom Churchill was an Olympic decathlete, a three sport All American, earned 10 letters in four sports and played professional baseball.

Born in Blair, Oklahoma, in 1908, Churchill attended Central High School in Oklahoma City, where he lettered in football, basketball, baseball, track and swimming. He was a high school scholastic All American, earned All State football and basketball honors and was the Oklahoman's choice as best all-around athlete in the state.

When he moved to the University of Oklahoma, freshman could not participate in varsity sports, so he opted to compete at the top of the list by winning the heavyweight and light heavyweight titles in boxing.

He earned All Conference honors in 1928 and 1929 in basketball, which was considered his best sport. In football, Churchill lettered in '27, '28, and '29 as an end, but also played tackle and running back when needed. He received All-American honors in 1929, and played in the East-West Shrine Game.

He won the decathlon at the 1928 Kansas relays and later earned a place on the U.S. Olympic team, finishing fifth in a field of 38 of the best competitors in the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam.

Churchill added baseball to his agenda and earned a varsity letter as a pitcher. He signed a professional contract with the Yankees farm league before ending his career due to a damaged shoulder.