About Tom Benjey
Tom has been researching and writing about topics related to the Carlisle Indian School football program all of this century but doesn’t remember exactly when he started. This blog is now over sixteen years old. His first book, published in 2006, was Keep A-goin’: the life of Lone Star Dietz. That was followed in 2008 by Doctors, Lawyers, Indian Chiefs, the biographies of 50 Carlisle stars. Those books were followed by state-specific titles that allowed the inclusion of more players. Oklahoma’s Carlisle Indian School Immortals (2009) and Wisconsin’s Carlisle Indian School Immortals (2010) are the first two volumes of the Native American Sports Heroes Series. In addition to writing books about Carlisle Indian School football players, he is an occasional contributor to Coffin Corner, journal of the Professional Football Researchers Association, and the journal of the College Football Historical Society. His “Birth of Modern Football” won the PFRA’s 2006 Writing Awards First Place for an Original Article Written for the Coffin Corner and Focusing on Pre-1960 Pro Football.
Dr. Benjey’s next project was a biography of the Craighead Naturalists. That work was interrupted in 2011 for medical reasons but was completed in 2016. The interruption spawned Prostate Cancer and the Veteran, an introductory guide to the disease, treatment options, and dealing with the Veterans Administration.
A chance discussion with a journal editor while writing an article about the 1908 Carlisle Indian School team led to him writing his latest book, Gridiron Gypsies: How the Carlisle Indians Shaped Modern Football. The only previous attempt of a complete history of that legendary team was made in 1951, well before modern research tools were available to uncover previously undocumented games and to correct details found in the earlier work.
More information about his books can be found at www.Tuxedo-Press.com. Information about Lone Star Dietz is at www.LoneStarDietz.com. Trailers for Benjey’s books can be viewed at www.YouTube.com/TomBenjey. He can be reached at Tom@Tuxedo-Press.com.
Tom Benjey's Weblog 
January 6, 2010 at 3:56 pm |
My husband just inherited a pocket watch which is engraved with the name Stancil Powell 1910 Carlisle Indian School. We are interested in finding out more about it and hoped you could make a recommendation.
January 16, 2010 at 9:55 am |
Thank you for posting this. I checked with a couple of collectors and they have never seen anything like this. Pop Warner once said that Carlisle football players were given trinkets after the season. This watch may have been such a “trinket.” Or, merchants or other supporters sometimes gave athletes awards for good performances. The latter was particularly true for winning track and field events in big meets. I’m sure Possum Powell’s descendants or any one of several museums would love to have it.
January 20, 2010 at 10:54 am |
Thanks for the info. This is all very surprising to us. We really don’t know where to go from here. I guess, eventually, we could contact a museum. We are still dealing with my in-laws estate and have been busy.
April 10, 2010 at 5:39 pm |
My great grandfather was Frederick Broker. My grandfather Charles told me stories about His Dad, but this was later in His Life and his memory was failing him. I was wondering if you had any more Information about My Great grandfather and uncle. I have serveral old pictures that you maybe interested in also. Thankyou for writing this book and any more information would be greatly appreciated.
April 10, 2010 at 6:18 pm |
Thank you for writing, Ryan. I wasn’t able to find much about your grandfather or his brother, so would appreciate hearing more about them. Photos would be especially nice. I am planning on writing a book about Carlisle Indians in the NFL and, if memory serves, your grandfather played for the Oorang Indians. That will be an opportunity to expand his chapter.
Tom
December 6, 2017 at 12:37 pm |
Hello Ryan, I’m doing research on the Oorang Indians. I was wondering if you could reach out to me through email at “bryanmeler97@gmail.com”. Please let me know if there’s a more convenient way for us to get in touch
November 23, 2011 at 8:29 pm |
I don’t know if you have seen the Library of Congress’ photos being posted on Flickr, but many of them (all public domain now, I believe) are of Carlisle football players or games:
November 25, 2011 at 4:59 pm |
Thanks for posting this, Art. I have looked at photos on the LoC site before but don’t recall seeing some of these before, particularly those of Wofford and Welmas.
Tom
February 12, 2015 at 12:33 am |
Dr. Benjey,
Was wondering if you have any anecdotes, notes or comments about any interactions between Thorpe and Patton. Obviously, two very different people from opposite ends of society’s spectrum. It would be interesting to know what each thought of the other as athletes, personally, etc. Probably not possible that they were roomies, as I would guess that Patton paid for his own accommodations, but they surely must have encountered each other in social and training situations and were in close quarters. Thank you for sharing. Mike
February 12, 2015 at 8:43 am |
I assume the entire Olympic team traveled together, creating the opportunity for Thorpe and Patton to interact but know nothing of any interaction. Did Patton write a memoir covering his time at the Olympics? Thorpe’s biographer, Bob Wheeler, wouldn’t have been able to interview Patton, of course, but may have heard something from a third source.
April 15, 2015 at 12:16 pm |
hi Tom. I was wondering if you had any info on Thomas Eagleman. He was Jim thorps roomate at Carlisle for I think 1 year. He I believe my great great grandfather and I’m trying to gather more information about him.
April 15, 2015 at 12:37 pm |
I gathered up some information on him some time back. I’m in the middle of several things right now but will get the info to you when things settle down.
December 15, 2015 at 10:18 am |
Mr. Benjey, I have several very old framed photographs of Lone Star Dietz. I am wondering whether you’ve ever run across other copies. Would you kindly send me your email address, if this is of interest?
-Tom
December 15, 2015 at 10:53 am |
My email address is Tom@Tuxedo-Press.com. I’m very much interested in seeing your photos. They may well be some I haven’t seen before.
Tom
March 29, 2019 at 3:27 am |
Do you know if Martin Sensmeier new dim about Jim Thorpe has started filming yet and where are the locations?
March 29, 2019 at 7:46 am |
I don’t think it has and I don’t know the locations. I wish I did.
November 14, 2019 at 7:04 am |
All I know is that it’s scheduled for release in 2021. Locations may not have been firmed up as yet.
August 10, 2019 at 1:24 pm |
hey Tom my name is Dennis Parrish and Ive started a Facebook Page called Carlisle Indian School Football Immortals.Please check er’ out and say hello.Page is dedicated to identifying every single football player..
December 3, 2021 at 10:22 am |
Hi Tom, I have been doing a bit of research on a painting that I have. It was by William lone star dietz. I read that in one of your articles that you know a number of people that may be interested including yourself in this painting. I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Thank you Kirk nelson
December 3, 2021 at 12:51 pm |
I wouldn’t exactly say that I know a number of people interested in his paintings but there is an interest in looking at them. Email a photo ot Tom@Tuxedo-Press.com and I’ll give it a look.
March 5, 2024 at 6:47 pm
Hi Tom Benjey, I really admire your works and research ! I’m also curious about our Benjeys . My 6th great grandparents was Joseph Benjey who married Elizabeth Rollins in 1786 Montgomery county VA, they went to Knox county and Harlan county KY by 1807…can you tell me anything about our Benjeys origins.i guess we are distant cousins .Thank you Tom
March 5, 2024 at 8:40 pm
I am also descended from Joseph Benjey and Elizabeth Rollins but don’t know a lot about our genealogy. Fortunately, my first cousin William G. “Bill” Benjey does and he has arranged a family reunion in Tennessee on June 22. I can get you his contact information if you’re interested.
Tom