Thomas Ross
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Sport:
Ice Hockey |
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Year
Graduated: 1966 |
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Year
Inducted: 1978 |
Like Teddy Roosevelt, Tom Ross believes in talking softly,
but carrying a big stick... whether it be a hockey stick,
baseball hat or policeman's baton.
A native of West R
oxbury, Mass., Tom was an outstanding hockey player at Boston
Tech before coming to Boston University.
That Tommy was destined to greatness was obvious in his first
season on the Terrier hockey team. Playing alongside All American
Richie Green on defense, Tom 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," Tom was not a flamboyant
player according to coach Jack Kelley, "But he was one
of the best defensemen I ever saw. He played the angles extremely
well and was so quick, he could recover during the times he
was caught out of position." Tom 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.
Tom'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, Tom 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,
Tom 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, Tom joined the Marine Corps ans saw
considerable combat in Viet Nam. 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.
