His family lived there for 5 years until his father was recalled to active duty in the Air Force. He lived in 10 states throughout his youth and adult life including three of the four corners of the US. He spent most of his youth in Greenville, South Carolina and graduated from H.V. Jenkins High School in Savannah, Georgia in 1964. His youth experie
nces included racing homing pigeons and attainin
g the rank of Eagle Scout. Tom attended Clemson University and Georgia Tech. He graduated with a degree in Physics from Georgia Tech in 1968. After graduation, he worked for Hamilton Standard in Connecticut. He was involved in proto type testing of experimental rocket thruster engines used to control a satellite’s orientation in space. He was present in a company command center with a team when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon in 1969. In 1970, Tom returned to Atlanta, Georgia to marry his fiancé, Beth Ratterree and to work for the Southern Company. He worked in nuclear power for almost his entire 40-year career, starting up and operating two of the company’s plants. In 1991, he moved to Birmingham to support the long-range operation of the company’s plants including his involvement in the nuclear industry. Over the last 8 years of his career he managed large projects for the company. He retired on January 1st, 2011. Tom has been a member of the North Shelby-Inverness Club since 2002 He was a club director, secretary, president-elect and president. In the District he has served as an Assistant Governor. Over the past three years he served as the District Trainer and District Communications Officer, and was on the strategic planning and finance committees. He was a PETS trainer for 5 years, is a member of the Council of Governors, and is a multiple Paul Harris fellow and a Paul Harris Society member. His early Rotary involvement included the Rotary Club of Vidalia, Georgia from 1982-86. One of his most memorable experiences there was sponsoring an exchange student from Denmark. They are still in touch with each other. Tom has been a parishioner at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Birmingham since it was formed in 1999. He served on its first pastoral council and also led a strategic planning process at the Church enabling the Church to make significant improvements in its early growth as a parish community. Tom is the father of Brian (Katie), Shawn (Jenny), Chris (Stephani), and Erin (Clint). He is also the grandfather of 2 precious girls, Emaan Greene (age 7) and Carlee Brannon (age 2). On February 22nd, 2012, Tom lost his beloved wife of 40 ½ years following an illness. He is dedicating his service as District Governor to her; she made it possible.
