Tom is from Knoxville, TN.  He has a BBA degree from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, has earned the Chartered Life Underwriter designation from the American College, and is a fellow of the Life Underwriters Training Council.  He is a retired agency manager with State Farm.

After 41½ years of service, Tom was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from State Farm at his retirement in 1995, and in a joint resolution by the Tennessee legislature; he was commended for his forty years of extraordinary service to the industry.