High School

Tom spent his early years moving from one Navy base to another. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, he attended five different elementary schools--in Annapolis, Maryland; North Kingstown, Rhode Island; Norfolk, Virgina; Monterey, California; and Charleston, South Carolina. His junior high and high school years were spent in McLean and Virginia Beach, Virgina, finally ending up in Pensacola, Florida.

Tom started high school at F.W. Cox High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Midway through his sophomore year he transferred to Pensacola Catholic High School. He lettered in track at Cox and both track and cross-country at Pensacola Catholic- in 11th and 12th grades.

From the write-ups, Pensacola Catholic was glad to have him.

Top runner was some new kid from Virginia.

The Varsity Track Team, senior year. Points if you can find Tom.

"Formidable." That's our boy!

Tom graduated from Pensacola Catholic High School in 1972. He says his grades were nothing exceptional, but his SAT scores were 750 in math and 740 in the verbal test. And though his yearbook listed him as a semi-finalist on the National Merit test, both he and classmate Kathleen Balthrop were National Merit Scholars, with an award presented by Jonas Salk of polio vaccine fame.

Can you find Tom? He might have worn a disguise that day.

Are we supposed to think he's looking up something here? Classmate and fellow National Merit Scholar Kathleen Balthrop doesn't seem to be buying it.