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Thomas S. Leith (1888 – August 24, 1960) was an American football and basketball coach. 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 two ran unsuccessfully for the Republican Party's nomination for the governor of Michigan.

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. 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.

Coaching career

Leith returned to Michigan in 1910 to coach at the high school in Albion, Michigan. The following year, he was hired at the athletic director at Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan. 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. Adrian was expelled from the conference after the incident and was only invited back after Leith resigned in 1913. Leith organized and held the first invitational track and field competition at a Michigan private college while at Adrian.

In the fall of 1913, Leith coached the football team at Cleary Business College—now known as Cleary University—Ypsilanti, Michigan. In 1914, he coached the Mack Park Maroons, who played the Detroit Heralds for the city championship of Detroit. In early 1915, Leith was hired as track coach at the Detroit University School. 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. In 1920, he coached football at Brighton High School in Brighton, Michigan.

Later career

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

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." 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 secretly eloped and only told their families five months later. The couple had two daughters, Dorothy Louise (1910–1973) and Clara Jean (1911–1982).

Leith died on August 24, 1960, at age 71.

Head coaching record

College football

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 .
3. "Coach At Albion". The Lansing Journal. Lansing, Michigan. September 6, 1910. p. 4. Retrieved December 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
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 .
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 .
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 .
10. "Sporting Chatter". Detroit Times. Detroit, Michigan. February 9, 1915. p. 6. Retrieved December 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
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. "Notre Brighton doctor, Dorothy Leith, dies". Livingston County Daily Press & Argus. Howell, Michigan. August 15, 1973. p. 12A. Retrieved December 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
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 .
18. "Death Notices; Leith". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. December 14, 1982. p. 6B. Retrieved December 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
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 .

External links

• Tom Leith at Find a Grave

• 1888 births
• 1960 deaths
• 20th-century mayors of places in Michigan
• American football halfbacks
• American football quarterbacks
• Adrian Bulldogs athletic directors
• Adrian Bulldogs football coaches
• Adrian Bulldogs men's basketball coaches
• Eastern Michigan Eagles baseball players
• Eastern Michigan Eagles football players
• Eastern Michigan Eagles men's track and field athletes
• Syracuse Orange football players
• High school football coaches in Michigan
• People from Brighton, Michigan
• Coaches of American football from Michigan
• Players of American football from Michigan
• Baseball players from Michigan
• Basketball coaches from Michigan
• Track and field athletes from Michigan
• Michigan Republicans