POWELL, Thomas Lee "Tom"

POWELL

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/25/2016 at 23:27:15

BIOGRAPHY ~ THOMAS LEE "TOM" POWELL
Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa

Thomas Lee "Tom" Powell was born June 14, 1951 in Des Moines, Iowa.

As a Graceland student, Tom was an All-American athlete in football and baseball, receiving the Rawlings "Big Stick" Award as one of the top three hitters in American collegiate baseball. He also played semi-pro football with the Iowa Nighthawks and Colorado Nuggets and had a draft order from the Seattle Pilots professional baseball team. He graduated from Graceland in 1973, majoring in health, physical education and recreation.. He obtained his master's degree from the University of Colorado in 1980.

He coached the Fairview High School "Knights" [Boulder, Colorado] baseball team from 1976 to 1980. He also served as assistant coach with the high school's football team. Tom taught for three years at FairView High School and at Southern Hills Junior High in Boulder, Colorado.

Tom joined Graceland's faculty in 1980 as assistant professor of education and became director of athletics the following fall. His friendly attitude with the campus population fit well with his 1984 appointment as vice president for student affairs (later redesignated as "student life") and dean of students. In that position, Tom was involved in creating Choices, the L.E.A.D. Program, Final Fling, the CAP Center and OASIS.

As athletic director, he coached baseball, assisted with football, and initiated the Yellowjacket Hall of Fame, to which he was eventually named in 1990.

Tom was honored as Vice President for Student Life Emeritus status, an honor granted only once before in Graceland's history. The Board of Trustees also honored Tom by naming the student life offices in his honor. Tom was dubbed as "Mr. Graceland."

Tom had been involved in security for nine Super Bowls and approximately two dozen rock concerts.

Tom Powell died at the age of 58 years on January 28, 2010, Des Moines, Iowa, after a year-long battle with cancer.

SOURCES:

Goehner, David. "The Graceland College Book of Knowledge: From A To Z." p. 433. Herald House. Independence MO. 1997.

Tom Powell's obituary

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2016

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