Like Teddy Roosevelt, Tom Ross believed in talking softly but carrying a big stick... whether it was a hockey stick, baseball hat or policeman's baton.
A native of West Roxbury, Massachusetts, Ross was an outstanding hockey player at Boston Tech before coming to Boston University.
Ross was destined to greatness was obvious in his first season on the Terrier hockey team. Playing alongside All American Richie Green on defense, Ross was named to the Boston Arena Christmas Hockey Festival All Star team and to the All New England team as a sophomore.
Known as the "Silent Sentinel," Ross was not a flamboyant player according to then-head coach Jack Kelley.
"But he was one of the best defensemen I ever saw," Kelley said. "He played the angles extremely well and was so quick, he could recover during the times he was caught out of position."
Ross was extremely clever with his feet, and was known for playing the puck along the boards with his skate to kill valuable penalty seconds as opposing players tried in vain to outmuscle him for the puck.
Ross's credits as a hockey player were numerous. He was named to the All America Hockey team his junior and senior years, during which time the Terriers posted 25-6 and 27-8 seasons. In addition to All New England (three years) and All East (two years) honors, Ross was elected his team's Most Valuable Player in 1965 and the MVP in the Beanpot in 1966.
Upon completion of the hockey season in his senior year, Ross went out for baseball in the spring. Despite the fact that he had not played for three years, he led the Greater Boston League in hitting and was third in New England with a .382 average. He played errorless ball in the outfield and was voted the Most Valuable Player on the baseball team as well as being named to the Greater Boston All-Star team.
Following graduation, Ross joined the Marine Corps and saw considerable combat in Vietnam. Upon returning to civilian life, he joined the Boston Police Department ans was recently awarded the Patrolman's Association's highest award, the Award of Honor, when he risked personal injury to himself to extricate a motorist from a burning car. The car exploded seconds later.
