Tommy Lloyd Babcock was a 1998 graduate of Springfield High School (GO Millers). While there, he played for the Miller’s football team as a varsity left tackle and defensive lineman. For Tommy, football was more than just a sport, it was a way of life and he carried his passion for it until his unexpected passing on April 29th, 2017.
In 2002, at the age of 22, Tommy was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and given a 1% chance of survival. For the next year Tommy would spend most of his time at Oregon Health Science University fighting for his life with the same vigor and tenacity that he applied on the football field. Tommy overcame insurmountable odds and conquered cancer like the champion we all knew him to be. Unfortunately for Tommy, the life-saving cancer treatments and bone marrow transplant left permanent damage to his body and Tommy was never able to play football again. This didn’t deter him from his love for the sport though; he was an avid Oregon Duck football fan and religiously followed the program through its highs and lows.
In 2016, at the prompting of a Kidsports football coach and life-long friend, Tommy agreed to coach the Defense for the aptly named Millers 4th and 5th grade football team. It was a choice that forever changed him. It was the first time Tommy had stepped foot on a football field since his diagnosis in 2002. You’d never guess that in watching him though; the field is where Tommy felt at home. Tommy was known amongst his fellow coaches and players for his infectious smile and laughter, as well as his dedication and drive in developing the best darn D-line in the league. In his time as a coach he helped to create a whole new generation of hard-driving, enthusiastic young men who have a fierce love of football.
This memorial scholarship was created by his loving family and longtime girlfriend who wish to keep Tommy’s football legacy alive for future generations.
