Hall of Fame
Dale Thompson always has been remembered as a popular and outstanding student-athlete at AU.
A native of Smethport, PA, Thompson played four years of football and also competed four years with the wrestling team.
He was a member of the undefeated freshman football team of 1947 with victories over Buffalo, Rochester, Hobart and Ithaca. He was on the 1948-50 varsity squads that posted an overall record of 12-10.
The 1950 Saxons (5-2) defeated Brockport, RPI, Clarkson (7-6), Hartwick and Brooklyn. Four Hall of Fame names were in the lineup - Thompson, Ralph DiMicco, John Fasano and Don Lester. The 1949 team won from Brooklyn, 20-19.
"Dale was one of the finest players I even knew," says Lester. "Remember he played tackle and weighed only 165 pounds. I know how good he was because I was playing right next to him. He was super as a linebacker during our Freshman season."
"I wish I had his wrestling record. Im sure Dale lone only a few times in four years."
Thompson won the third-place trophy (165 pounds) at the classic Cleveland Invitational in 1948-49.
He was assistant football coach at Wellsville and coached wrestling at Alfred-Almond and Alfred State. He operated an insurance agency in Alfred until his untimely death in a drowning accident on September 1, 1965.
His widow, Cora Mills Thompson Leyman, still wears a gold engraved football pendant Dale earned at AU.
Children: Deborah, Amy, George, Lisa and JOhn.
