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Class of 1928

Tompkins

Jack A. Tompkins

Served American Airlines for 41 years, 13 years as vice president

Played for Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings

Named in 1967 as one of the University of Michigan’s All-Time Athletic Greats

Inductee, Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame, 1997

Jack A. Tompkins graduated from Royal Oak High School in 1928. Jack was an amazing athlete in high school earning 16 varsity letters. He pitched four no-hit no-run games and led the baseball team in hitting as it won 33 straight games and 2 state championships.

At the University of Michigan, Jack Tompkins captained both the baseball team and the hockey team earning All-American recognition on three occasions. He is a member of the U of M's Hall of Honor. After college Mr. Tompkins played professional sports with the farm teams of both the Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Red Wings.

In 1935 Jack Tompkins was hired as a reservations clerk by American Airlines. He retired 40 years later as the Vice-President of Northern Operations. He is credited with convincing American Airlines to become the first commercial carrier at Metro Airport in Detroit, and persuaded the Civil Aeronautics Board to designate Detroit as one of six American cities to be a terminal for international flight.

Mr. Tompkins served on many civic committees at crucial times. He was President of the Detroit Convention and Tourism Bureau during the construction of Cobo Hall. He observed the construction of Detroit City Airport terminal while President of the Detroit Aviation Commission. He was part of the leadership groups forming the Buffalo Bills football team and the Hazel Park Harness Raceway.

Jack also gave of his time and talent to many civic organizations including the Boy Scouts, the Boys and Girls Clubs, the Economic Club of Detroit, the Travelers' Aid Society and the Roundtable of Christians and Jews. In 1965, Tompkins co-founded the Great Lakes Invitational hockey tournament that has been held between Christmas and New Years in Detroit every year since.  Mr. Tompkins was inducted into the Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame in 1997.

Class of 1928

Morrison

Maynard D. Morrison

All-State athlete at Royal Oak High School

All-American football player at the University of Michigan

Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame Inductee, 1998

Maynard Davis Morrison graduated from Royal Oak High School in 1928. His friends often called him "Doc" after his father, J. S. Morrison MD, who was one of the founders of the city and an officer on the school board. It was Dr. J. S. Morrison who established the Morrison Trophy Award which is awarded annually to the most outstanding athlete in the high school graduation class. Maynard was one of the first recipients.

Many regard Maynard Morrison as the greatest football player to ever wear the Blue and White colors of the high school. He played fullback for ROHS for four years, and was the first in the city to be selected for the first team All-State team. He also was the catcher for the high school baseball team that won the state championship in 1927.

Mr. Morrison enrolled at the University of Michigan and played fullback and linebacker. At the end of the 1929 season, his coach Harry Kipke said Morrison was the best back to wear the Michigan uniform in 15 years. However, in 1930, Kipke moved Morrison to the center position where he earned All-Big Ten status. The following year he earned All American status.

Maynard Morrison when on to teach mathematics and coach football at Lansing Eastern High School after a brief career in pro football.  In Lansing he served many years as a volunteer with the Lansing Teachers Credit Union. In 1982 he was inducted into the University of Michigan Hall of Honor and in 2005 he was selected as one of the 100 greatest Michigan football players of all time, ranking 50th on the all-time team.

Maynard D. Morrison was inducted into the Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame in 1998.

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