McMurry University Athletics

Bob Tharp, ’30 (Deceased)

He was one of the top rushing threats for McMurry on the 1927 and 1928 TIAA championship teams. A native of Idalou, Tharp was dubbed the “Galloping Ghost” by his teammates because of his high strides when he ran. Anthony Hunt, an early teammate, called Tharp “one of the greatest halfbacks I ever saw on the field.” He was a threat on both offense and defense.

Tharp was killed shortly after leaving McMurry when a grocery store he was working in was robbed.