Lee McClung

Bio

His full name was Thomas Lee McClung; his nickname, given him by his Yale friends, was "Bum." He played halfback at Yale 1888-91, and was captain his senior year.. Individual records for those years are unofficial, but McClung is credited with scoring 176 points in the 1889 season and 494 in his career. (Touchdowns were 4 points, field goals 5, extra points 2.) Yale's won-lost record in his four years was 13-0, 15-1, 13-1, 13-0; total 54-2. Yale out-scored opponents each year 694-0, 601-31, 486-18, 488-0; total 2269-49. In 1892, Bum McClung coached the University of California football team. He then went into railroads, insurance, and banking. From November 1, 1909, to November 12, 1912, he was Treasurer of the United States. A facsimile of his signature is on paper currency printed in that period. His great-grandfather, Charles McClung, was a surveyor who laid out the city of Knoxville. The McClung family history is preserved in the Frank H. McClung Museum at the University of Tennessee and the McClung Collection of the Knoxville Public Library. Bum was one of three McClung brothers who graduated from Yale. He served Yale University as its treasurer 1904-09, served as Yale alumni president and was national councilman of the Boy Scouts of America. His full name was Thomas Lee McClung, but he preferred to be known as Lee McClung, and that is the way his signature appeared on U.S. currency.

Career Highlights

• 1891 Consensus All-America
• 1890 Consensus All-America