Thomas Amlong

Thomas Amlong, born on June fifteenth, nineteen thirty-five, was an accomplished American rower known for his remarkable partnership with his brother Joe. The duo made a significant mark in the rowing world, clinching the national title in coxless pairs in nineteen sixty-four and securing an Olympic gold medal in the eights during the same year.

Raised in a military family, Thomas was the third son of Colonel Ransom George Amlong and Marguerite Kennedy. His early years were spent at Fort Knox, Kentucky, before the family relocated to Huntley Meadows Park in Virginia in nineteen forty-six. The Amlong family’s journey took them to Liège, Belgium, in nineteen fifty, where Thomas and Joe were introduced to rowing in nineteen fifty-one. Their competitive spirit flourished in Germany, where they participated in coxless pairs in nineteen fifty-two.

After returning to Virginia in nineteen fifty-three, the brothers enlisted in the 82nd Airborne Division in August nineteen fifty-four. They later joined an Army sports program, which led them to train for the nineteen fifty-six Olympics on the Potomac River. Although they faced defeat at the Olympic Trials, Thomas continued his education at the University of Maryland before transferring to the University of Virginia in nineteen fifty-seven. In nineteen sixty-one, the brothers became members of the Vesper Boat Club in Philadelphia.

Following in his father's footsteps, Thomas had a distinguished twenty-year career in the U.S. Army, serving in Vietnam. He retired as a captain and later battled cancer, which was likely linked to exposure to Agent Orange during his service. In his later years, Thomas resided in Old Lyme, Connecticut, and remained an active member of the National Rowing Association and Vesper Rowing Club. He passed away at the age of seventy-three, leaving behind a legacy in both rowing and military service.