Tom graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a BSEE in 1950. He was a member of honor societies Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi. Tom retired from Warrick Operations in 1985 after 36 years with ALCOA. He had worked as a co-op student and electrical or construction engineer at five other plants and Pittsburgh Headquarters before moving to Evansville and turning on the switch that started ALCOA’s first aluminum producing pot line in Warrick county in 1960.
A registered Professional Engineer, Tom served as president of the Southwestern Chapter and state director for the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers. He was a part-time consultant for two Evansville engineering firms after retiring from ALCOA.
Tom grew up on a Tennessee River farm and graduated from Farragut High in 1943. At Farragut, he was president of the National Honor Society, senior class president and commencement speaker. Tom then attended North Carolina State as an enlisted reserve in the Army Specialized Training Program.
In early 1944, he was assigned to the Army Air Force and completed basic training at Randolph Field, Texas, and then central fire control school at Lowry Field Colorado. After graduation, he joined his 20th Air Force crew for flight training at Harvard, Nebraska. The crew arrived on Tinian Island in late 1944. From Tinian, Tom flew 35 B-29 bombing missions, six over Tokyo, as CFC gunner. Missions were usually 13-15 hours; one was over 17 hours. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medals, Presidential Unit Citations, battle stars and other medals. He was a life member of VFW Post 1114 and DAV Chapter 7 and served on the Veterans Council. During one Japan mission, his B-29 gunner bubble was hit by shrapnel which penetrated most of the bubble's protective lavers and exploding the inter-most layer knocking him out for a while and his hearing in both ears for over a week. His hearing never recovered fully, especially the one ear nearest where the shrapnel hit his bubble -- the V.A. had determined that he was 60% disabled due to his hearing loss particularly in that ear.
Tom had traveled extensively with his wife and enjoyed his family, friends and acquaintances, reading, cross-word puzzles, social bridge and sports. He had played baseball and softball. He coached Plaza Park youth baseball teams and had coached Little League teams in Texas.
Surviving are sons and daughters-in-law, Steve and Cathy Early, Newburgh; Scott and Cheryl Early, Indianapolis; Timothy Early and his partner - Raffaele, Louisville; Michael Early and ex-wife Diane Early, Evansville; grandchildren, Heather and Coltyn Early, Margaret Lindner and Emily Hartz, Mark and Sean Tague. Great grandchildren Aubrey and Aiden Early Hartz; two-month old Lilly Lindner; Kirsten, Analiese and Karson Lindner.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters and, in 2003, his wife of 52 years, Helen.
The body will be cremated and the cremains will be interred beside Helen’s in a granite boulder at Park Lawn cemetery’s “Garden of Reflection” in east Evansville. Although there will be no memorial service, his family, friends and acquaintances are asked to celebrate his long life, perhaps in small groups. Memorial contributions may be made to college or university scholarship programs.
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