THOMAS L. OZBURN, LT, USN
Thomas Ozburn '02
Lucky Bag
From the 1902 Lucky Bag:
Thomas Lindorf Ozburn
Murphysboro, Illinois
"Tommie," "O. Z. Burn," "Pringle's Pet."
Scorns the baubles and frills of an artificial life, seeking the beauties of a natural existence where all men are equal,—and women, too. Is sufficient judge of his own acts and asks favors of no man. Thinks it is not worth the trouble it takes to rise above the common herd. A man who is continually unappreciated and under-rated,—at least in his own mind. Defies the world to produce a better man. "I don't want any odds of anybody."
Buzzard. Class foot-ball team; Rhino (4, 3, 2, 1).
Thomas Lindorf Ozburn
Murphysboro, Illinois
"Tommie," "O. Z. Burn," "Pringle's Pet."
Scorns the baubles and frills of an artificial life, seeking the beauties of a natural existence where all men are equal,—and women, too. Is sufficient judge of his own acts and asks favors of no man. Thinks it is not worth the trouble it takes to rise above the common herd. A man who is continually unappreciated and under-rated,—at least in his own mind. Defies the world to produce a better man. "I don't want any odds of anybody."
Buzzard. Class foot-ball team; Rhino (4, 3, 2, 1).
Loss & Other Information
From The Boston Post on July 4, 1911:
NEW YORK, July 3. — Lieutenant Thomas L. Ozburn of the United States navy committed suicide on board the gunboat Tacoma yesterday at the New York navy yard by shooting. Lieutenant Ozburn was born in Murphysboro, Ill., and was senior engineer officer of the Tacoma. The Tacoma came here about two weeks ago, after more than a year of patrol duty along the South American coast. On June 24 Lieutenant Ozburn began the test walk of 50 miles in three days, required by the department as a certificate of physical fitness. He completed the test, but returned in low spirits, complaining of pains in his head and hip. To some of his fellow officers he volunteered that an automobile had struck him on the third day of his walk.
Thereafter he had little to say, and his messmates saw him only at prescribed times. Yesterday morning a shot was heard and investigation discovered the lieutenant stretched out in his berth, with a bullet wound in his temple. He never recovered consciousness, and died in half an hour without leaving any message. A wife and one child, a daughter four years old, survive him. Both are at Murphysboro, Ill., where the body will be forwarded.
From Find A Grave:
Thomas Lindorf Ozburn was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, at Annapolis, Maryland, class of 1902. He rose to the rank of lieutenant commander, and for a year was in command of the battleship "Texas." His promising career was cut short by his death at the Brooklyn navy yard, on the 2d of July, 1911. He had made an admirable record as a naval officer, and his personal popularity was on a par with his sterling attributes of character.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Thomas married Jennie Delano on December 4, 1906, at her home in Murphysboro.
He is buried in Illinois.
Photographs
From the 1902 Lucky Bag
Memorial Hall Error
Suicide is not a criteria for inclusion in Memorial Hall.
Thomas is one of 2 members of the Class of 1902 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
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