Thomas Patrick Thornton

Thomas Patrick Thornton (March 8, 1898 – July 1, 1985) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Education Thornton served as a fireman in the United States Navy during World War I. He entered Tufts University in 1919 and so distinguished himself as a fullback on the football team that he was recruited by Fordham University the following year. A year later he was recruited by Syracuse University, and in 1922 he moved west to the University of Detroit to play fullback and quarterback for the Titans. In 1924 he was considered the University of Detroit's finest all time running back. His 1924 team out-scored its opponents by 140 points to 38 points, competing against schools such as Army, Michigan State, Fordham, Boston College, and Tulane. His tenacity and aggressiveness on the football field earned him the nickname of "Tiger". He also excelled as a swimmer and diver, working summers as a lifeguard at the Belle Isle Bath House. In 1981 he was inducted into the University of Detroit Sports Hall of Fame.