Thomas Dudley Harmon was born in Gary, Indiana on September 28, 1919. Harmon played college football at the University of Michigan from 1938-1940, winning the Heisman Trophy his senior season.

Although he made his name as a running back, he also excelled as a kicker and quarterback. Harmon rushed for 2,134 yards at Michigan, and completed 100 passes, including 16 touchdowns. In his final game, against Ohio State Harmon led the Wolverines to a 40-0 victory, scoring three rushing touchdowns, two passing touchdowns, four extra points, and punting three times for an average of 50 yards. He led the nation in scoring in 1939 and 1940, and was elected to the College Football All-America Team both years. In 1940, he won the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Award, each given to the outstanding college football player of the year.

Harmon was taken by the Chicago Bears with the first selection in the NFL Draft, but chose not to play football professionally. After graduating college he had a brief career as an actor, starring as himself in the biopic Tom Harmon of Michigan , but the film was a flop. He appeared occasionally in films throughout the forties and fifties.

During World War II Tom Harmon enlisted as a pilot in the Army Air Corps. He was twice forced to bail out after his airplane was hit with enemy fire, once walking without food and water for four days before being rescued. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Silver Star.

From 1946-1947 Harmon played football professionally with the Los Angeles Rams, but wartime injuries to his legs limited his effectiveness. He spent the remainder of his career as a sports broadcaster on radio and television. Tom Harmon died of a heart attack on March 15, 1990.

Tom Harmon was married to actress Elyse Knox , and was related to a number of notable personalities. He was the father of actor Mark Harmon, the father-in-law of singer Ricky Nelson and actress Pam Dawber, and the grandfather of twins Matthew and Gunner Nelson , who performend as the rock group Nelson.

References

Pat Zacharias, Wolverines' Legendary Tom Harmon, The Detroit News