Tom McLure
American football and baseball player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Thomas McLure (December 20, 1888 – March 24, 1931) was an American college football and baseball player who served in the First World War.[1]
Jacksonville, Alabama, U.S.
near Ehrhardt, South Carolina, U.S.
| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback |
| Personal information | |
| Born | December 20, 1888 Jacksonville, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | March 24, 1931 (aged 42) near Ehrhardt, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| College | Auburn (1906–1908) |
| Awards and highlights | |
| |
Auburn University
McClure was a prominent quarterback for Mike Donahue's Auburn Tigers of Auburn University.
1908
In 1908, a year in which he was captain,[2][3] he was selected All-Southern;[4][5] Vanderbilt coach Dan McGugin describes his play: "McClure was not particularly fast, but a spirited leader, an excellent general and a sure tackler."[4] LSU won the SIAA championship, but amidst fears of many players being ineligible under SIAA rules most sportswriters did not include them for All-Southern selection.[4] LSU rival Tulane, which was also undefeated in conference play, accused many LSU players of professionalism.[6] Auburn is one team listed as an alternative southern champion, for LSU was its only loss.
Military service and later life
During World War I, McClure served as a captain in Company F, of the first regiment of engineers, in the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF).[7] He declared that going over the top in France beats charging into an opposing eleven.[8][9] He was severely wounded in the Battle of Cantigny, having a portion of his face shot away and sustaining injury to his knee. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre for bravery.[7]
McClure later worked as a resident engineer for South Carolina's state highway department. He died on March 24, 1931, two miles south of Ehrhardt, South Carolina, where he was supervising work on highway No. 36.[7]
