:Thomas D. Whittles

{{short description|American novelist}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox college coach

| name = Thomas D. Whittles

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1873|12|27}}

| birth_place = Lancashire, England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1950|12|6|1873|12|27}}

| death_place = Carlton, Minnesota, U.S.

| alma_mater =

| player_years1 = 1895

| player_team1 = Waynesburg

| player_positions =

| coach_years1 = 1895

| coach_team1 = Waynesburg

| overall_record = 3–0

| bowl_record =

| tournament_record =

| championships =

| awards =

| coaching_records =

}}

Thomas Davies Whittles (December 27, 1873 – December 6, 1950) was an American Presbyterian missionary, novelist, and college football coach. He was the author of three missionary novels based on the life of Frank E. Higgins: The Lumberjack's Sky Pilot, The Parish of the Pines, and Frank Higgins, Trail Blazer. Whittles attended Waynesburg College—now known as Waynesburg University—in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania as a pre-ministry student. They organized the school's first football team, for which he played and coached. He led the 1895 team to a record of 3–0.{{cite web|url=http://www.sidearmdmg.com/waynesburg/football/|title=Waynesberg College Football Media Guide|publisher=Sidearm DMG|accessdate=February 14, 2011|page=79}}

Whittles died on December 6, 1950, in Carlton, Minnesota.{{cite news |author= |title=Dr. Whittles, Missionary |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66025160/obituary-for-thomas-d-whittles-aged/ |newspaper=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph |location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |date=December 7, 1950 |page=42 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}