Outside Interests/Awards
When not working in his career or political pursuits, Tom enjoys volunteering at the Germanic-American Institute in St. Paul (he is of 50% Swiss ancestry, as well as Irish). At Christmas, he often serves meals in the community (or volunteering charitable photography services). As owner of two African Grey parrots, he is active in the Minnesota Companion Bird Association. He enjoys travels where he can photograph rural American countrysides or railroads in Germany). While never learning to play an instrument, he enjoys attending classical, sacred and Broadway musical concerts. During the winter months, he can be found keeping statistics and sports announcing for high school basketball games. He also enjoys history, particularly of old St. Paul and other communities.
Tom also founded St. Paul’s Highland Park High School Alumni & Friends Association and was inducted into the school’s hall of fame in November 2006 for achievements in politics and public service. The Boy Scouts of America’s then-Indianhead Council honored Tom with the 2000 Spurgeon Award for service to youth in the community.
Since 1989, Tom has chaired or co-chaired the 500-member University of North Carolina’s alumni club (Minnesota chapter) and was nominated for election to the school’s General Alumni Association board of directors in late 2009. He oversees the group’s annual service project at the Ramsey County Historical Society’s Gibbs Farm Museum.
