Tom was born in Springfield, Mass. and was second oldest of five children. One brother and one sister are still living today. He has one daughter, Nancy, who is married and living in Oregon.

 Tom was in the navy in World War II and in the Philippines when the war ended.

   The GI Bill allowed him to get his pilots license at a school in Oakland, CA. From that time on he joined the ranks of job hunting with anyone who had an aircraft. He hired on with Tigers on April 20, 1955. With Flying Tigers, he found more stability and after many furloughs, Tigers was his home until he went to his final home on July 23, 1981.

  According to his wife, Ginny, "we were married on May 26, 1956, and had 25 exciting years together. He loved to go out on his boat fishing or anchoring at one of the Channel Islands. In 1978 he was Commodore of Channel Islands Yacht Club. Tom was a wonderful husband. He loved his job, he loved the Tigers. We were all family under Robert Prescott, President of FTL. God blessed us."