LTC Thomas P. Powers USA (Retired)Cullum:25724 Class:'65 Cadet Company:E1 Date of Birth:March 30, 1943 Date of Death:October 14, 2024 Died in: Lakeland, FL Interred: Bay Pines National Cemetery, St. Petersburg, FL - View or Post a Eulogy |
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Thomas Patrick “Thom” Powers Jr., born on March 30, 1943 in Chicago, IL to Thomas Patrick Powers Sr. and Louise Edmonson Powers, passed away October 14, 2024 in Lakeland, FL. Thom is survived by Dorothy, his wife of 59 years; his older sister Linda Powers Bilanchone; his loving daughters, Tracey Ritter (Brad) and Jackie May (Tim); and his grandchildren: Lindsey and Ryan Ritter, and Matthew, Melody, and Aniya May
Thom lived in Mokena, IL until seventh grade, subsequently relocating to Western Springs for the rest of his secondary schooling, and was active in sports, while also working in the hometown bank. He was appointed to the Academy by Representative Ed Derwinski, who visited the family in person to congratulate Thom.
Thom’s yearbook entry noted that he was often intensely busy, devoting much of his time editing the Pointer magazine, as well as singing in the Catholic Chapel Choir and the Glee Club, thereby enjoying weekends away from West Point, one of which changed his life. During one of those sojourns, January 1964, he performed with the Glee Club at the New York Athletic Club, where he first met Dorothy. He returned the following weekend with the Catholic Choir to sing at a mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral; Dorothy also attended the service. Thereafter, they saw each other as often as possible, sharing phone calls and letters when apart. Engaged in late 1964, they married June 12, 1965 in the small chapel, of course, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.Other trips with the Glee Club offered Thom an opportunity to sing on the Ed Sullivan Show and perform at Disneyland, while enjoying the “performer perk” of being escorted to the front of the lines, having good seats and meeting stars, like Jerry Lewis.
Upon graduation, he was commissioned Armor, eventually serving in Vietnam with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR), followed by the Armor Officer Career Course at Fort Knox, KY. A tour with the 3rd ACR, an advisory tour in Cambodia, and a stint with the 5th Battalion, 33rd Armor Regiment ensued. While an advisor, he found time in Phnom Penh, when he wasn’t hunkered down, to improve his fitness level on the tennis court and the softball field and learned to waterski. He also acquired enough French to be at home during a later trip to Paris.
Subsequently, Thom earned a master’s degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, followed by three years with the Math Department at the Academy. He later served with an armor unit in Germany, attended the Armed Forces Staff College, and ended his career as a lieutenant colonel at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL, with multiple tours at Readiness Command Headquarters. Upon his retirement from the military in 1986, having fallen in love with Tampa, he transitioned to a position there as a senior analyst with the Syscon Corp until 1990. Thereafter he became a military analyst with Computer Science Corp, retiring from that position in 1998.
After settling in Tampa, Thom enjoyed playing softball in different leagues in his free time. When he retired from the sport, he ranked No. 9 on the all-time leaders list for hits (over 2,000) and No. 11 for runs for the St. Petersburg Half Century Softball Club. Thom also loved his career as both a football and basketball referee, earning the Florida High School Athletic Association’s “Florida Active Official of the Year Award” in both sports. Thom was passionate about all sports but was an especially dedicated fan to the Army and University of Miami football teams and his beloved Chicago Cubs. At age 50, Thom attended the Cubs’ fantasy camp in Arizona, meeting some of the team’s stars, creating videos, and collecting photographs. He received 50 baseball cards of himself, which he numbered, signed, and catalogued his distribution of them.
One of the perks of being a high school referee was being asked to help along the sidelines with the “chain gang” at the Outback Bowl and an occasional Tampa Bay Buccaneers game. He recorded those games and relished seeing himself in action afterwards. He once attended a football game with Army playing the University of South Florida, finding himself on the sidelines once again, this time with the Superintendent of West Point.
Through all his moves, Thom saved all of his 2-1s (disciplinary reports) that had been “written up” on him by other cadets and officers. A few years ago, he realized that one of the resident neighbors at his senior living facility was the sister of an upperclassman who had issued one on him. She was overjoyed when Thom gifted her with it, signed by her big brother.
Thom’s life was celebrated at a military burial on November 27, 2024 at Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg, FL. Thankfully, his two daughters and Dorothy were by his side when he peacefully slipped away. At the service, five referees from his football crew of many years showed up unexpectedly to honor his memory. They presented Dorothy with a picture of them at a high school football game, expressing how much they looked up to and admired him. Thom was deeply devoted to his family and his country, serving both with a gentle and kind spirit that will be truly missed. May he rest in peace.
— Dorothy Powers, Wife; John Lyons, Classmate
