Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-08-19
MIKE THOMPSON QUITS
Georgetown Manager viii Re-
tire From Active Work.

Has Been an Active Worker for T'hir-
teen Years Changes in Faculty and
in the Athletic Work of the College
Main Reason for His Retiring May
Go to Washington.
Michael Thompson of this city, the
well known. promoter of athletics, was
asked by Democrat reporter to-day
if the reports appearing in the Wash
ington and New York papers to the
effect that he would not be graduate
manager of athletics at Georgetown
university next year were true. He
replied in the affirmative. He fur
thermore stated that two years ago
when the system of graduate manager
of athletics was inaugurated at
Georgetown university by Father
Whitney, he was appointed the first
graduate manager. He accepted the
position for one year and possibly two.
At the end of the first year there was
a change in the faculty of the uni
versity and another priest was ap-
pointed moderator of athletics. Mr.
Thompson, however. consented to re-
tain the position of graduate mama
ger. Since the beginning of the pres
ent year Mr. Thompson has been con-
sfdeTing the advisability of resignin~
his position at the end of his second
year in office. But he did not care
to leave athletics at Georgetown in
the lurch. If there was change in
the faculty and new man, one not
familiar with athletics, was appointed,
moderator OF athletics, 1t would not
be quite right for him to leave. But
when the change was announced a
few weeks ago, it was seen that Faith
er Really, who had charge of athletics
at Georgetown in '96, '97 and '9S, was
appointed moderator. an opportunity
was offered Manager Thompson to
give up his position. This he did In
all proba bi1fty no successor will be
appointed to Manager Thompson, as
tho graduate fmansager system will
probably be done away with and
Father Really will have entire charge
of athletics. Georgetown has not
near SO many students as other col
1eges where the graduate manager
system is established ard consequently
fewer graduates. Therefore it is no
easy matter to secure a man TO fill the
position of graduate manager for a
year or two. as there is not much mon
ey and, it knocks out the plans of the
person accepting the position. If a
man could devote all his life to athlet-
les and there was money enough in
them, it would be all right. But such
isn't the case.
Mr. TlaomDson stated that he would
remain in this city for the remainder
Of the summer and In the fall wouId
90 to Washington. Though he will
not be connected officially with ath-
Ietics at Georgetown. he states that he
will aid them in every way and do all
he can for his alma mater. This fall
he will referee some of the larger col
lege football GAINS and after that he
will retire from athletics for good.
For thirteen years he has been inter
eSted in High school and college atl-
letics and has successfully climbed
from the lowest to the highest rung.
During the two years that he was
graduate manager Of athletics at
Georgetown he raised the standard Of
the college in the various sports to n
high pinnacle The various teams of
the university never enjoyed such sue
cess. Tt was under his management
that a coach was first secured for the
college crew. Last year he engaged
McGinn as coach and the Georgetown
crew finished second in the races ait
Poughkaepsie.