John P. St. John Memorial High School
Class of 1948

(Oct. 18, 1930 — Feb. 28, 2011)

Paper boy, soda jerk, Eagle Scout, clarinet player and thespian were among Tom’s identities in high school. As a student at the University of Kansas he excelled academically, was a fraternity officer, head cheerleader, member of the debate team and held a varsity record in the breast stroke. After serving in the Navy during the Korean War, he finished college at KU. In 1957, he attended KU’s law school and was editor-in-chief of the Law Review. Tom practiced law for many years at Payne & Jones law firm in Olathe. Tom was a Rotarian, board member for multiple banks, and city attorney from 1960-61. He served on the board of editors for the Journal of the Kansas Bar Association, sat on the advisory board of the KU Museum of Natural History, and was a member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants and the Kansas Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.