Dee Child - Utah State University

Tom has been my MAIN inspiration and motivation professionally for years and years. He was very interested in voice disorders as you know and as one of his graduate students I became interested in voice as well. He was my thesis chair and helped me in that whole process. I think he was the main one who helped me secure a position at USU a few years after I had graduated. He gave me many opportunities to cultivate and harvest ideas or projects that he had planted such as our annual summer workshops and our outreach masters program. I've been running those programs now for over 20 years thanks to Tom. He wrote a book on vocal abuse and asked me to work with him in developing a computer program to "modernize" his book in the new frontier of home computers. That was many years ago. He invited me to go to Orlando Florida to present to a group of professionals on his behalf. He appointed me as assistant department head to keep me at USU when I was going to leave. I'm still in that position after probably 15 or so years and two other department heads. I could go on and on and on. Many years ago when I was made Bishop he was my wise mentor. I've always liked his wit and sense of humor. He and Jay Jensen were always very entertaining!!! Tom and I used to select the graduate students that were admitted to our outreach program because most of the other faculty had left for the summers. Tom was always very professional and very supportive of all sorts of students. He believed in giving students a chance who may not have always had the highest grades.

Tom's year end departmental graduation speeches (for the students) and musical performances were memorable and are still talked about by those of us who are still in the department who agonized through those LONG speeches. He often printed and disseminated the speeches, which were usually 10 - 15 pages long. Our year-end parties were usually outside and one year the weather was COLD and snowy. We were all hoping he'd cut his speech short since we were outside at a bowery at the fairgrounds. But, NO, he gave the entire speech!!! It's great to recall and laugh about it now! His headband and Willie Nelson songs were always one of the highlights of the graduation parties. He'd finish the speech and then put on the headband and pull out the guitar and give us a concert! It was GREAT!!! Of course Tom wore his very impressive KING costume at least once a year - on Halloween as I recall. The bright and tight red and black costume, complete with crown, on such a shapely body has burned an impression in my brain that will never leave!!! I could go on and on and on (ASHA conventions, flexible vocal stroboscope demonstration, kicking the black rock down the road, fall faculty retreats with state of the union, state of the state, state of the department speeches at Zanavoo and at his brother's (I think) cabin up Logan Canyon, the demolition of the Mechanical Arts Building, etc. etc. etc. Here's just one more in closing. Tom was always looking for ways for the department to get more money. With Jay Jensen's help he was very instrumental in finding a wonderful donor for the renovation of our COMD Building. Tom and I worked very hard (mostly Tom with my token support) in getting plans made and details worked out for the interior demolition and remodeling of the inside of our building. This was a HUGE project for Tom. There were many details and headaches involved not only in the renovation but also the temporary relocation of our entire department for a year while the renovation was taking place. Tom pushed through the whole process and saw it through to completion and dedication. He then retired from COMD shortly thereafter. Without a doubt he's always struck me as a person not interested in the glory, just interested in the process and outcome. I respect him greatly as a professional colleague and friend. I talked to him just a few months ago on the phone about helping me collect some data on availability of adult therapy settings in Southern Utah and he was still interested in keeping his finger in the profession pool. He's great. Sorry this is so long! I just got on a roll and couldn't stop. Best Wishes in this frustrating and difficult experience. I'll keep checking your logs on the blog.