Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame
In sports you often hear people say that speed kills or you can’t teach speed. You also hear sports pundits say the combination of great talent with an insatiable passion for the game are key ingredients for success. Tommy Clinton was talented and fast, but it’s his heart that endeared him to teammates, coaches, friends and family.
What made Tommy Clinton special was his knack for making big plays. As one of his teammates remarked, “Tommy possessed unbelievable vision. He had this second sense of where tacklers were approaching without ever turning his head. Tommy was simply amazing.” After World War II Southwestern football struggled, but with the hiring of Hall of Fame coach Ricky Mays and the recruitment of talented athletes like Tommy Clinton, Southwestern enjoyed a renaissance in football in the late ’50s. As a freshman, Tommy was a key player on the 1958 Lynx squad ,which posted a 5-3 record, the first winning season for the Lynx after World War II.
A four-year starter for the Lynx at running back and defensive back, Tommy served as captain of the 1961 football team. For years, he held the record for the longest pass reception for a touchdown when he scored on a 93-yard pass reception against Ouachita his junior year. As you read summaries of Southwestern games from 1958-61, they are full of Tommy Clinton highlights of his scoring from over 50 yards, such as in the Lynx win over Centre in 1961, when he scored on runs of 55 and 4 yards. Tommy may well be the greatest big-play athlete ever to wear a Lynx uniform. As a senior, Tommy was selected the Co-Most Valuable Player.
Tommy also starred as a sprinter on Coach Freeman Marr’s highly successful track teams, serving as captain of the 1961 and 1962 teams.
Tommy was not only an exceptional athlete, he was also a highly successful student, majoring in Economics. At graduation he was presented the prestigious Seidman Award, which is given to the most outstanding senior student-athlete. Tommy was tapped to Omicron Delta Kappa, and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Tommy Clinton has been making big plays all his life, whether it’s been on the gridiron, track or as a highly successful business executive. Rhodes is honored to induct TOMMY VIRBLE CLINTON into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame this 21st day of October, 2011.
