Tom Ellison -- R.I.P.
-Our Friend and USMS member Thomas P. Ellison died tragically Tuesday, May 17, 2011, of a brain injury. He was 60.
-Tom, aka Mr. Moose, Ralph, Rocky Walker, and Stillhere, was a frequent contributor on this forum. Tom swam for years with the North Texas group and was a Top - 10 ranked long distance racer during the late 1990's.
-Tom was very proud of his service in the Marine Corps.
-At age 25, he was severely injured. Tom spent many months in the hospital recovering, but those injuries continued to affect him for the rest of his life. Despite this, his fierce competitive spirit led him to success in USMS as well as the Alcatraz and Golden Gate swims in San Francisco.
-Tom later married and raised a family in NC, FL, and TX. He worked in the airline industries for many years.
-Tom's sense of humor and irony never failed. He was a gentleman who treated all with respect. He leaves behind three children and many friends.
Tom was on my Masters team a while in FW when his son was swimming with our seniors USAS group.
Despite all the turmoil in his life, Tom was so proud of his son's accomplishments both in swimming and in school.
Matt, I hope you and your family find peace.
Tom and I swam many meets together in Texas during the 90's. He was the consummate competitor. Even though he suffered the after effects of a crushed pelvis, he could really put the hammer down on distance swims. He had a great sense of humor and was a real gentleman. RIP, Tom.
