by Lance Callihan
28. September 2009 14:00
Today (9/28), on Tom Harmon’s B-Day, we honor him with this profile as Alumni of the Week.
Tom Harmon played football for the University of Michigan from 1938 – 1940. During his time at Michigan, he ran for 2,134 yards, completed 100 passes for 1,304 yards and 16 TDs, and scored 237 total points.
Harmon is the only man to twice lead the NCAA in scoring (1939/40). He was the first University of Michigan player
to win the Heisman trophy in 1940.
Harmon enlisted in WWII as a pilot in 1941. During a tropical storm he parachuted into a South American Jungle. After a massive search was put on for him, he wandered out of the jungle 4 days later. After transferring to a single pilot plane he was shot down over Japan occupied China, he parachuted and saved a piece of his chute for his wife’s wedding dress years later. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his actions in the War.
Tom Harmon was inducted into the Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1978 and passed away in 1990. He is recognized as a Wolverine Immortal by UMGoBlue.
Past Alumni’s of the Week: