Thomas Woodson Poor was born on December 15, 1903 in Bismarck, Missouri. Poor graduated from McAlester High School in McAlester, Oklahoma in 1921 before going on to join the track and field team at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas.

In high school and at KU, Poor was a high jumper and earned the nickname "The Kansas Grasshopper." Completing a personal best jump of 6'5.5" while at KU, Poor competed at the Boston Olympic Trials in 1924 and won first place, earning him a spot on the 1924 U.S. Olympic Team. Poor placed 4th in high jump at the Paris Olympics. Notably, Poor also competed in the the first Kansas Relays at KU, placing first in the Relays' inaugural high jump event.

Poor married Naomi Ruth Sparlin in Seneca, Missouri on June 18, 1929. They had six children together, who included Sidney Poor, Melinda Sue Poor, and Melanie (Poor) Cottam.

After graduating from KU in 1925, Poor began working as a car salesman in Olathe, Kansas. He became the president of the Olathe Chamber of Commerce, served on the Olathe School Board, and eventually was elected mayor of Olathe, a position he held from 1949-1951. Poor notably improved the sewer system of Olathe, kept contact with the Naval Air Base in Olathe open, and also promoted a fly-killing campaign to help stop the spread of polio after his daughter Melinda Sue died from the disease in 1946.

Poor sold his car dealership in 1953 and moved back to Seneca. Poor served as the Secretary for the Grand Lake o' the Cherokees in Oklahoma for several years.

Thomas Woodson Poor died on December 20, 1965.

[Information taken from collection materials.]