Thomas White

White, Thomas was born in Newport in 1876, and is a son of Michael White. He was educated locally, and then entered the office of his uncle, James Mahoney, paper stock, iron, metal and general merchant, of which business he is today the proprietor. Side by side with a successful business career he has had a remarkable athletic record, achieving distinction and national renown in several branches of sport. Commencing as a delicate youth, weighing only six stone at the age of eighteen, he joined the Newport Corporation Baths Gymnasium, and in a few years won the Sandow medal for the best all-round developed man in Monmouthshire. Height, 5ft. 7½in.; chest, normal, 39in., expanded, 42in.; biceps of each arm, 14¼in. He has been a member of the Newport Athletic Club Gymnasium for very many years, and whilst his brilliance as a gymnast tended to obscure his other work, he has won over 100 prizes for running, jumping, walking, hurdle racing, shot putting, etc. He was a member of the Newport team that captured the National Physical Recreation Society's 200-guineas shield in 1898. In 1899 he won the open club-swinging championship at Aberdare, and the Newport Club's championship for Indian club work. In 1900 his team won the Midland Counties' shield, and in 1901 the Adams' shield, the "blue riband" of gymnastics. In 1902 he won the all-round championship of the Newport Athletic Club, and was selected one of the six to represent England when they beat Scotland and Ireland. In 1904 he entered for the English Individual Gymnastic Championship, but unfortunately he met with a severe accident at Newport Sports in the high jump, fracturing his knee-cap, and this compelled his retirement from all active leg work. Years later, however, he was still the Indian club solo champion, and his services as judge were in much request. In 1906 he was elected president of the Welsh Amateur Gymnastic Association, and at the Olympic Games at Shepherd's Bush he was one of the judges. His many appointments in the realm of sport include captain of the Newport Rowing Club, president of the Welsh Amateur Boxing Association, president of the Welsh Amateur Gymnastic Association, organiser and secretary of the Welsh Amateur Boxing and Wrestling Championships, and in business life treasurer of the South Wales and West of England Iron, Metal and Waste Trades Association, vice-president of the Midland Metal Dealers' Association. He married in 1902, and has two sons. Office:. Portland Street. Telegrams: "Mahoney, Merchants." Tels. 2842, 2084. Residence: 17 Brynhyfryd Road.