Tom was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin, the second of four boys. Times were tough growing up in a basement apartment. Dad worked as a machinist in a foundry while mom took on numerous jobs in the stocking/clothing manufacture field, catalog companies and 5 & 10 stores. Even the payment of fifty cents a quarter for tuition at the local catholic school, was difficult and payment usually late. Catholic education continued in high school and the love of playing sports, baseball, basketball & football, all four years, got him thru graduation.
Early on, work was never a problem. He delivered the local newspaper, was an usher at the theatre and installed auto seat covers & convertible tops on used autos. His first full time job was as an assistant purchasing agent in the local hospital. Working there 2 years and attempting some college credit, he still didn’t settle down.
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The next step was the military and he entered the Air Force and basic training at Lackland AFB Texas in1961. What intended to be a four-year enlistment resulted in a 26 year military career. His first 13-month assignment was in the state of Maine, at a radar site. After which, he returned home, married the girl left behind, Mary Lee of Marquette, Michigan and their travels began. Overseas assignments included Korea, Germany, Vietnam, The Netherlands and Sicily. Their two children, David and Kathleen, continually experienced new schools as the travels continued to stateside assignments in Florida, Nevada, Kansas, California, Louisiana and Georgia. During those years his brothers also served in the military, Air Force and Marine Corp totaling some 54 combined years. This compulsion to serve was a severe strain on the parents, almost unbearable when they lost the youngest in Vietnam 1967. Now 1987, Tom retired from the military and began another 10 year period at Robins AFB Georgia, civil service, in the logistics management field.
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Tom enjoys following his boyhood sport teams including the Wisconsin Badgers, Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and the Marquette Warriors of Milwaukee. A bass fisherman for years, upon arriving in Georgia 1979, he began hunting waterfowl, small game, and big game including deer, elk and caribou. In the turkey world he has registered several Grand Slams, two Royal Slams and one World Slam with the National Wildlife Turkey Federation.
The ease of retirement at the Lake Sinclair home site, ordinary aging and travels to the many hunting lodges brought about many health problems. Tom enjoyed eating at the lodges, just as one would on leisure cruises. His weight ballooned to over 400 pounds, he had knee surgery, suffered with diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems became the norm
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The thought of a shortened life, no more hunting, loss of enjoyment with the four grandchildren, meant a change was necessary. A lifestyle change took place with Tom reaching out to a dietitian, walking outdoors/indoors at Wal-Mart, Kroger’s and membership at the locale gym’s Silver Sneakers exercise program. Within some thirteen months, participation in a weight management contest, prayers and entrance in his first, be it incomplete 5k in February 2012, he had lost some 207 pounds. Life was restarted. The first full year of running up and down interstate 75 was 2013. The following year his Garmin GPS found the various small towns/communities of Georgia, the Biggest Losers 5k’s at Six Flags Georgia, Panama City Beach Florida and Georgia’s Golden Olympics, Warner Robins. Another special event included running a leg, carrying the Special Olympics Torch with a group from Soperton to Dublin, Georgia. During the year 2014, he was able to complete some 94 events, and the weekends were now totally consumed with spending time with the new found “Running/Caring Family”. Tom never led the pack during any running event unless permitted to start early, but found comfort in the “back of the pack” meeting other new runners. He not only encouraged them to never give up but to begin that new lifestyle with healthy eating. Tom has competed in the 70-74 age groups and now 75+. His favorites include those listed in Run & See Georgia along with the Black Bag Series where he placed 5th and 3rd the last two years.
Looking back Tom and his wife, friend, hunting/fishing partner Mary Lee, recently celebrated 54 years of marriage. Their two children David the oldest, lives in Alabama. He is a previous computer science major however will be ordained a Presbyterian Minister in December 2016. Kathleen, their daughter followed in Tom’s footsteps and is working as a civil servant, Contract/Acquisition Manager, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. A recent auto accident took the life of one grandson, only 22 years old. While another serves as a Sheriff in Macon, yet another continues his college studies, and lastly the grand daughter is a Registered Nurse in a children’s hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. Tom & Mary Lee still live at Lake Sinclair and attend Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Milledgeville. They are slowly preparing to downsize, sell off the many treasuries acquired over the years and move to a local apartment size dwelling.
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The good life continues for Tom & family especially after the weight loss and lifestyle change. The almost daily workouts at the gym, discipline learned in the military or stubbiness as his wife calls it, prepares him for the Saturday morning ever enjoyable running rituals. His mantra continues to be “what happens during the race isn’t important except, to cross both the starting and the finish line”. Tom is leading the 75-79 age group in the Run and See Georgia Grand Prix, and finished 2nd in the Black Bag Race Series, and is second in the Clover Glove race Series 2016 standings.
Bob checking out from the back of the pack. Look for the profile of Atlanta's Jill Floyd and of shirtless Gary Hosmer.