Born in Toronto, Tom, as a teenager, moved with his family to Oakville and he began a career in the Youth Bowling Council (YBC) at Hopedale Bowl. Tom had built his on-lane skills while in Toronto as he was a pinsetter at Studio Bowl, located at Keele and Eglinton Avenues.

At Hopedale, Tom first joined the YBC program and in his later teenage years, tried the adult leagues as well. Initially, he was victorious on a mixed YBC team from Hopedale in 1967 and that same year, Tom bowled a rare perfect game as part of his senior YBC play at his home lanes.

Entering the adult ranks, Tom was an immediate force in both league play and the provincial Open. Beginning at Bramalea Bowl, Tom bowled a record score of 1675 as part of the Open qualifying process. His Open qualifying began in 1969 and overall, Tom qualified thirteen times with three years in the singles, five times on the men’s team and eight years on mixed teams. This participation was memorable as Tom was a member of four provincial championship teams from three different zones.

These four victories began with Central Ontario in 1971 as its men’s team won at Fleetway 40 in London. Unfortunately, that year, there wasn’t a national final as the East and West were still arguing over the elimination of the counter pin. In the Hamilton zone, Tom qualified on the mixed team in 1978 and again in 1984; both teams won the provincial championship. The 1984 team parlayed its Ontario win to a Canadian championship in Saskatoon. Finally, in 1990, Tom qualified through Tri-County and that team was silver medalists nationally, while bowling in Hamilton.

Tom added to his national titles with his participation in the Master Bowlers’ Association of Ontario (MBAO). As early as 1974, Tom qualified for the Ontario men’s team that won the Canadian championship while bowling in St. Catharines. While Tom was not an individual tournament winner, he was runner-up at the 1980 Rose Festival, losing the final game by a mere forty-three pins to Hall of Famer Chuck Park; Tom earned $1,000 in the televised final.

This national success is only one part of Tom’s excellence on the lanes. In league play, he was equally impressive. Not only has he bowled numerous 400 games and 1,000 plus triples, his league scores have established records at several centres. In 1978, Tom registered a 960 triple at Skyway Lanes in Burlington. At Hopedale, he set a standard for three games of 1094 and at Ancaster Lanes, his 1005 triple is another house record. Finally, during the 1980-81 season, Tom set a record with a 1032 triple at Waterdown Lanes. In addition, Tom has won many high average titles including one year when, while bowling in five major leagues in a week, he won the high average title in four of them.

Tom also took his talents to several open tournaments. His most impressive victory was at Playdium Recreation in Windsor. Bowling on the last shift, there were already two 2900 plus scores posted. Hall of Famer Don Betts had a 2964 ten game score and the local favourite from Windsor, Pete Baleka, had 2918. Tom was unfazed and proceeded to bowl a ten game score of 3034 and win the $1100 first prize.

Off the lanes, Tom is forever the salesman. In 1994, he took his outgoing personality to the political arena. In a twelve year period, he began as a Councillor for the City of Nanticoke, then Haldimand County and ultimately, Deputy Mayor for the County as well. In addition, Tom married Muriel Stewart in 1986 and together they have an extended family of nineteen.

Politics put Tom’s bowling career on hold for several years. However, in recent years, he has moved back to Hamilton from Hagersville and bowls in an elite league in Stoney Creek as well as trying the MBAO senior tour. Hopefully, as a legend in our sport, Tom will regain the ability that brought him to this honour tonight. We can only hope so.