Thomas A. Graham ‘72 

Thomas Graham played football and ran indoor and outdoor track at Baldwin-Wallace College from 1968-1972. He was one of the finest wide receivers amnd track student-athletes in BW history.  He was inducted into the BW Alumni Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1985.

As a freshman, Graham played on the freshman football team and moved to the varsity as a sophomore and had an outstanding season at wide receiver. He went on to earn the first of three first-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors. Graham caught a then school-record 87-yard TD pass and was one of BW’s leading receivers during a 7-1-1 season.

As a junior in 1970, he helped BW to a 6-3 season. His 63-yard end-around was the clinching touchdown in a 29-21 win versus Bucknell (Pa.) University. He again earned first-team All-OAC accolades.

In 1971, Graham had his finest season as a collegian and again earned first-team All-OAC and led the Yellow Jackets to a 9-1 record. He was the Jimmie Lee Memorial Trophy as the Most Outstanding Local College Football Player in Greater Cleveland and was the BW Most Valuable Player. He set school records with a 95-yard TD run in a 10-7 win at Wittenberg University, and caught a record 50 passes during the entire season for 754 yards. During that season, Graham also caught the first career TD pass from a then freshman QB named Jim Tressel!

In track, Graham won four varsity letters. He received the BW Outstanding Sprinter Award, the Geisman Award and numerous medals. He also was a member of the school-record 440-yard relay team.

As a freshman in 1969, Graham helped BW win the OAC Outdoor Relay and OAC Championship Meets. In a relay meet, he and fellow freshman Henry Lewis set a BW school-record in the 880-yard (two-man) relay with a time of 3:15.6 at the Central Region Meet at Bowling Green State University. At the 1969 NCAA College Division Championship Meet, the all-freshman mile relay time finished in 3:17.0 (no place was listed).

As a sophomore in 1970, Graham helped BW to win the OAC Indoor title and both the OAC Outdoor Relay Meet and Outdoor Championships. Outdoors, he won both the 100 and 220-yard dashes and anchored the winning and OAC record-setting 440-yard relay team. He also set an OAC record in the 220 dash. Graham was invited to compete at the NCAA College Division Championship Meet in St. Paul, Minnesota.

As a senior in 1972, Graham helped BW to win the “Grand Slam” of track in the OAC:  the OAC Indoor Relay Meet and Indoor Championship Meet, the OAC Outdoor Relay Meet and the OAC Outdoor Championship Meet; and defended its Cleveland College Meet title. Overall, BW had its first-ever undefeated season in track and was one of the best seasons in the history of BW track. Graham had the best time in the 100-yard dash of 9.8 seconds.