Junior Thomas Smith Captures Dual Football Awards

Thomas Smith captured dual awards at the Huntington High School football team’s annual awards dinner that drew a crowd of 250 to the cafeteria. The Blue Devil junior was the recipients of the Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award along with the T. Christopher Pettit Scholar Athlete Award presented to the player with the highest academic average.

Smith, a 6’1, 185 lb. running back and linebacker was a key player on both sides of the ball for Huntington. He also starts on the Huntington wrestling and lacrosse teams all while compiling a weighted academic grade average in excess of 100.

A member of the Class of 1963, Mr. Pettit captained three varsity Blue Devil teams and went on to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he was a two-time All-American lacrosse player and the team’s captain and leading scorer.

Born in Huntington Hospital on February 18, 1945, Mr. Pettit enjoyed a remarkable career at Huntington High School, serving as captain of the football, basketball and lacrosse teams and being elected G.O. president by the student body. He addressed classmates as the “honor speaker” at the 102nd annual commencement on June 25, 1963 at 8:15 p.m. in the school auditorium.

“Things do not happen in this world; they are brought about by people who are concerned and who become involved,” Mr. Pettit said during his commencement address. “I know that we can have the courage to affirm life by our involvement in living.”

Accepted into Harvard, Mr. Pettit chose West Point instead and following his graduation, he became a battery commander on a missile base in what was then West Germany. He also served in combat as an Army Ranger in the Vietnam War, earning two Bronze Stars and moving up the ranks to captain.

Following his military career, the Huntington alum taught math for two years and coached football and then was in business for four years before joining Lehman Brothers in 1977. He quickly climbed through the commercial paper and bond divisions. Mr. Pettit was named a partner in 1982 and eventually became the legendary Wall Street firm’s president and chief operating officer. He left the company on November 26, 1996.

Mr. Pettit was killed while snowmobiling at night on a frozen lake near his vacation home in Windham, Maine on February 15, 1997. He reportedly hit a stump and his helmet dislodged as he was thrown from the fast moving vehicle. He sustained a massive head injury and passed away while being rushed to a nearby hospital. The Huntington grad was 51 years old. He is interred in St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.

In addition to being a leading figure in the world of international finance, Mr. Pettit found time to coach youth lacrosse, soccer and basketball. He was one of the founders of the Cold Spring Harbor-Huntington Youth Lacrosse Club. The former Blue Devil star and Army great was inducted into the Long Island Metro Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1994.

Mr. Pettit was also a key contributor to cancer research. He was among those who helped organize the Dorothy Rodbell Cohen Foundation for Sarcoma Research, which has provided millions of dollars in grants over the years.