26 Facts About Thomas Trueblood

Thomas Clarkson Trueblood was an American professor of elocution and oratory and the first coach of the University of Michigan golf and debate teams.

Thomas Trueblood was affiliated with the University of Michigan for 67 years from 1884 to 1951, and was a nationally known writer and speaker on oratory and debate.

Thomas Trueblood founded UM's Department of Elocution and Oratory as well as the campus debate program.

Thomas Trueblood was posthumously inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1981.

Thomas Trueblood attended Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana and received an AM degree.

Thomas Trueblood established the first credit course in speech at any American university.

At the turn of the century, speech and oratory played an important role in American society and academia, so much so that Thomas Trueblood was the highest paid professor on the University of Michigan faculty, and students were required to take Thomas Trueblood's courses.

Thomas Trueblood established the Northern Oratorical League, and later the Central Debating League, for the purpose of conducting competitive debates among Midwestern Universities, including Michigan, the University of Chicago, Northwestern, Oberlin College, Iowa, and Minnesota.

Thomas Trueblood delivered speeches and gave dramatic readings on tours all over the world.

Thomas Trueblood's readings are taken from the best literature, with special attention to Shakespearean work.

Thomas Trueblood was president of the National Association of Elocutionists when they met in June 1899 for their annual convention at Chautauqua Institute, New York.

Thomas Trueblood brought with him Charles Casper Simons, a law student who coached the debate team for Trueblood.

Shortly after the incident, Thomas Trueblood left for a trip giving dramatic readings on the West Coast.

Thomas Trueblood was the faculty tennis champion, but at age 40 his doctor told him to give up the game because it was too strenuous.

Thomas Trueblood took up golf, and enjoyed success in that sport, too.

In 1921, golf became a varsity sport, and Thomas Trueblood was the school's first official coach.

In 1926, Thomas Trueblood retired as a professor emeritus at age 70.

Thomas Trueblood coached two NCAA individual champions, Johnny Fischer and Chuck Kocsis.

Thomas Trueblood died in Bradenton, Florida in 1951 at age 95.

Thomas Trueblood's papers are at the Bentley Historical Library in Ann Arbor.

Thomas Trueblood has been the subject of two articles by Linda Robinson Walker in the University of Michigan alumni publication Michigan Today.

In 1921, students of Professor Thomas Trueblood honored him by establishing the Thomas Trueblood Fund.

In 1981, Thomas Trueblood was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the fourth induction class.

The Trueblood Theater was located in the Henry S Frieze Building at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance and named in Trueblood's honor.

The Thomas Trueblood Theater closed its doors in 2006 when the Frieze Building was razed to make room for the North Quad Residential and Academic Complex.

In 1998, the Thomas Trueblood portrait was hung at the University of Michigan Golf Course.