Thomas Arthur Mitchell Mott (“Tam”) was born in Kansas City, MO, on September 19, 1928, to Thomas and Miriam Lamar Mott. After a long battle with heart disease and cancer, he died peacefully at home on July 19, 2012. Even though he was not born in Texas, he considered himself a lifelong Texan, having moved to Dallas at the age of 8 and staying for the next 75 years!
Tam graduated from Highland Park High School in 1946 where he was a member of the 1945 State Championship Football team and a 5 sport letterman and member of the band. He was truly a lifelong Scot, being an active fan and supporter of all the HPHS sports teams through the years and serving as a board member and advisor for the HPHS Alumni Association from the early 1990s until his death. He also enjoyed the camaraderie of his cronies in “ROMEO” (Retired Old Men Eating Out) and the Highland Park Silver Haired Supper Club.
Tam continued his education at SMU where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, graduating in 1951 with BA and BBA degrees and earning his MBA in 1960.
He retired from his executive management position with Security Engineering, Division of Dresser Industries, Inc., in 1993 after 35 years with the company.
He was also a 56 year member of The Salesmanship Club of Dallas.
Music was his passion and a huge part of his life. He was a “trombone player extraordinaire” - with his trademark “ancient” trombone and case always at hand. Tam was a classically trained trombonist, but his first love was Dixieland Jazz and he played with several bands including The Cell Block 7, The Levee Dixieland Band, The North Dallas Jazz Band, and The Dixie River Rats.
“Big Daddy” gave us strength, support, and inspiration; he was our coach, teacher, mentor, and biggest fan and mom’s constant companion and he will be missed. He is survived by his wife Betty of 60 years, daughter Mindy Cunningham and her husband Jim, son Mike Mott and his wife Jill, and 3 granddaughters Katie Cunningham and Mackenzie and Sinclair Mott.
Tam was an active member of Northway Christian Church and the May-Friendship Sunday School Class. A memorial service will be held at Northway at 4:00 PM on Sunday, July 22, 2012.
The family requests that memorials be made to Northway Christian Church or The Salesmanship Club of Dallas.
Northway Christian Church - 7202 W. Northwest Hwy., Dallas, 75225.
Please visit www.sparkman-hillcrest.com for more information.
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