Through the 1920s, the East High teams did not have an official mascot or nickname. The teams were often referred to as the “Red and Blacks”, “East Warriors” or simply “East High”. But by 1934, the high school yearbook referred to the football team as the “Tomcats”. By 1945, all the high school teams had adopted the name.

So where did it come from?

An article in the Sept. 30, 1931, East High Auroran student newspaper gives us a clue. The headline announced “Tomcat Is New Emblem and Name Of East High Heavyweight Gridmen”. The story goes on to describe the striking new emblem that appeared on the football players’ right arm for the game against Urbana.

The news article hints that the name was in honor of legendary varsity football coach Glen Thompson, who was known more often as “Tommy”.

Thompson had come to East Aurora High School in 1925, and proceeded to resurrect the football team. The short, sturdy coach was known as being a jokester and was well liked among students. He was a successful basketball and track coach, and his football teams regularly won conference championships.

“He was a man of few words and when he does utter them, he means everything he says,” the yearbook said of Thompson.

Some his first teams were known as the “Thompsonmen”, in honor of the coach. According to the student newspaper, one day a football player crossed out Tommy’s signature on the weight room sign-in sheet and wrote “Tomcat”.

The name stuck.

For decades, the high school teams have been known as the Tomcats and nearly all the East Aurora middle and elementary schools use some sort of cat for their logo and nickname.

After 19 years of coaching at East Aurora, Thompson enlisted in the Coast Artillery in 1942. Thompson died in 1966, but his name has inspired the cheers of generations of East Siders.

School Songs

Wave the Flag

Wave the flag of East Aurora,
The Red and Black so grand.
Ever shall our team be victors,
Known throughout the land.
With the championship before them,
Without a fear they’ll stand.
So wave again that dear old banner,
For they’re heroes every man.

East High Will Shine Tonight

East High will shine tonight, East High will shine;
East High will shine tonight, all down the line.
East High will shine tonight, East High will shine;
When the sun goes down and the moon comes up, East High will shine.