Dr. Thomas J. Knox
Coach Knox was born in Pratt City near Birmingham, Alabama, on March 17, 1902. His father was a miner in the Docena Mines. His first recollection of becoming seriously interested in athletics was when he was about nine years old. He remembers reading about a major league pitcher, Mordecai Brown, and that he had written a book on how to pitch a baseball. He ordered a copy of the book, read it and began to practice how to hold and pitch a baseball. His best pal, Tommy Brooks, who lived just a few houses down the street, was a catcher and Coach Knox was the pitcher. He refined his pitching and batting skills in sandlot baseball games in and around his neighborhood during the next few years.
He walked three miles to attend the Pratt School for eight years; each day passing in front of a white school four blocks from his house. He graduated from Industrial High School in 1919.
Coach Knox got permission to work in the mines with his father so he could earn money to go to college. He graduated in 1925 from Talladega College where he lettered in football, baseball, basketball and wrestling. He played end in football, pitcher—outfielder in baseball, and guard on the basketball team. He was also captain of the basketball team.
During the summer of 1923 and 1924, he played pitcher and outfielder for a barnstorming baseball team, the Illinois Royal Giants. He also played baseball during two summers for the Ensley T.C.I. Black baseball team which also guaranteed him a summer job so he could earn money for college.
It was while playing for the Ensley T.C.I. Team one summer day that he earned the nickname “Mule,” that has stayed with him all his life. He was playing left field. The batter hit a sharp, long drive. Coach Knox took quickly at the crack of the bat, racing full speed for the ball; he could not see a mule-drawn wagon coming down a road just beyond the edge of the ball field. Just as he speared the ball with his glove, Coach Knox crashed into the mule with such force that almost turned the wagon around. He still kept the ball in his glove! From that catch on, he became known as “Mule’ Knox.
After graduating from Talladega, Coach Knox thought seriously about being a medical doctor. He decided, instead to pursue a pharmacy degree. He earned that degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee in 1928. Coach Knox opened a drug store in North Birmingham in 1928 with a partner. The Great Depression brought an end to his drug store business.
Still interested in athletics, he volunteered to coach the Miles College football team which he did for the seasons of 1929 and 1930.
Attorney Author Shores recruited Coach Knox to head up the chemistry department at Dunbar High School in Bessemer where he also coached the football team to three winning seasons. Attorney Shores was then assistant principal at Dunbar. He and Coach Knox had been classmates at Talladega College.
After coaching and teaching with distinction at Dunbar High School, Coach Knox began a career with Miles College which is virtually unmatched in collegiate athletics and academics. He was recruited to Miles by the School’s revered President, W. A. Bell.
Coach Knox came to Miles in 1934 as Athletic Director, Head Coach and Professor of Chemistry. His reputation as a superb teacher, on the field and in the classroom, became legendary. It was also during this time that he acquired his other nickname, “Papa.” Many of his students at Miles came from families where the financial resources were quite limited.
While he was noted as a strict and demanding coach and teacher, his students also knew that he was a kind and gentle human being. They would come to him, asking help with car fare and a little spending money. He would say to them, “who do you think I am, your
Papa?” As he helped them over the years in this way, the name “Papa” Knox grew to become an accurate term of endearment and affection for this special human being.
On doctor’s orders, Coach Knox reluctantly gave up active coaching in 1968. He continued as Athletic Director until his retirement from Miles in 1979, completing forty-five years of remarkable service as coach, teacher, friend and advisor to thousands of Miles College students.
Coach Knox was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Shriners and the Elks. He was married to Lucille W. Knox who was crowned “Miss Miles” in 1934. Mrs. Knox retired from Lawson State Community College where she was head of the English Departments. Coach Knox died on March 5, 1993 at the age of ninety (90).
We Miss You “Papa” Knox
Biography submitted by:
John W. Tarver, Jr., Class of 1946
Member of Miles College Sports Hall of Fame
Return to List>>>
He walked three miles to attend the Pratt School for eight years; each day passing in front of a white school four blocks from his house. He graduated from Industrial High School in 1919.
Coach Knox got permission to work in the mines with his father so he could earn money to go to college. He graduated in 1925 from Talladega College where he lettered in football, baseball, basketball and wrestling. He played end in football, pitcher—outfielder in baseball, and guard on the basketball team. He was also captain of the basketball team.
During the summer of 1923 and 1924, he played pitcher and outfielder for a barnstorming baseball team, the Illinois Royal Giants. He also played baseball during two summers for the Ensley T.C.I. Black baseball team which also guaranteed him a summer job so he could earn money for college.
It was while playing for the Ensley T.C.I. Team one summer day that he earned the nickname “Mule,” that has stayed with him all his life. He was playing left field. The batter hit a sharp, long drive. Coach Knox took quickly at the crack of the bat, racing full speed for the ball; he could not see a mule-drawn wagon coming down a road just beyond the edge of the ball field. Just as he speared the ball with his glove, Coach Knox crashed into the mule with such force that almost turned the wagon around. He still kept the ball in his glove! From that catch on, he became known as “Mule’ Knox.
After graduating from Talladega, Coach Knox thought seriously about being a medical doctor. He decided, instead to pursue a pharmacy degree. He earned that degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee in 1928. Coach Knox opened a drug store in North Birmingham in 1928 with a partner. The Great Depression brought an end to his drug store business.
Still interested in athletics, he volunteered to coach the Miles College football team which he did for the seasons of 1929 and 1930.
Attorney Author Shores recruited Coach Knox to head up the chemistry department at Dunbar High School in Bessemer where he also coached the football team to three winning seasons. Attorney Shores was then assistant principal at Dunbar. He and Coach Knox had been classmates at Talladega College.
After coaching and teaching with distinction at Dunbar High School, Coach Knox began a career with Miles College which is virtually unmatched in collegiate athletics and academics. He was recruited to Miles by the School’s revered President, W. A. Bell.
Coach Knox came to Miles in 1934 as Athletic Director, Head Coach and Professor of Chemistry. His reputation as a superb teacher, on the field and in the classroom, became legendary. It was also during this time that he acquired his other nickname, “Papa.” Many of his students at Miles came from families where the financial resources were quite limited.
While he was noted as a strict and demanding coach and teacher, his students also knew that he was a kind and gentle human being. They would come to him, asking help with car fare and a little spending money. He would say to them, “who do you think I am, your
Papa?” As he helped them over the years in this way, the name “Papa” Knox grew to become an accurate term of endearment and affection for this special human being.
On doctor’s orders, Coach Knox reluctantly gave up active coaching in 1968. He continued as Athletic Director until his retirement from Miles in 1979, completing forty-five years of remarkable service as coach, teacher, friend and advisor to thousands of Miles College students.
Coach Knox was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Shriners and the Elks. He was married to Lucille W. Knox who was crowned “Miss Miles” in 1934. Mrs. Knox retired from Lawson State Community College where she was head of the English Departments. Coach Knox died on March 5, 1993 at the age of ninety (90).
We Miss You “Papa” Knox
Biography submitted by:
John W. Tarver, Jr., Class of 1946
Member of Miles College Sports Hall of Fame
Return to List>>>