Hall of Fame
Tom Hennessey was a standout running back and kick returner for the Crusaders in the early 1960s.
In his first game on the varsity squad in 1960, he ran back the opening kickoff 85 yards in the season opener against Harvard. He topped the effort later in the season with an 89 yard return for a touchdown versus Connecticut. That season he set school single-season records by averaging 30.8 yards per kickoff return and returning two kickoffs for touchdowns.
A senior co-captain in 1962, Hennessey finished his three-year career with 1,157 yards rushing and nine touchdowns; caught 47 passes for 779 yards and three scores; scored 98 points; and ran back 29 kicks for 723 yards.
He led the Crusaders in rushing in two of his three seasons with the varsity, and earned All-East and Catholic All-America honors as a senior. In addition, Hennessey was named the 1963 Crusader of the Year.
Following his graduation, he spent a year on a Jesuit mission in Bagdad, Iraq, and then played two seasons with the Boston Patriots, being named their Rookie of the Year in 1965. He moved on to a long career within the Boston school system as teacher, coach, headmaster and administrator.
