Transylvania University

Ryan Thompson, Transylvania's first Mr. Pioneer, was anextraordinary athlete. He played football, baseball, andbasketball, but football was his favorite sport. Thompson made theAll-State team for football from 1921-24 and the All-Southern teamin 1924. After graduation, he was an assistant coach at Transy fora year and briefly played semiprofessional baseball andprofessional football. He became part owner of a Packard dealershipand a life insurance agent.