Thomas Elder

When we were in the seventh grade at Mt. Olive Elementary, Tommy was the Captain of the school patrols. He would check each post, making sure we were all in our places. From that time on, I considered him to be a strong and "in-control" individual that I respected. He was my first "crush" and that giddy, teen-aged feeling continued throughout the years at Briarwood H.S. I secretly watched him play football from the stadium, wishing that he would know how much I cared for him. To his...

Tom, and his boys, was one of the people who made the initial impression of BSA Troop 2000 so positive. A big, hearty, open man obviously willing to give. Our deepest condolences to your family, but what a great legacy and example to look back on.

May you rest in peace! I went through elementary school at Mount Olive and high school at Briarwood (class of '72) with Tommy. What a great guy!! Always had the cutest grin and the nicest guy a girl could meet. I know you are in a better place know...see ya there!

May God bless your family!!

Tom was one of the first people I met when I moved to Georgia in 1986. He was also the first UGA graduate that I had ever met. Although I tried to persuade him to be an OSU fan, anyone that knew Tom would know his loyalties never wavered. He will be remembered as a man of strong convictions, and loyalty. Our community will miss Tom and his leadership, his laugh, and his commitment to family, friends and the great outdoors.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult...

Tommy's family - our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Big Guy - you were one of the best (and most fun...) to be around. You will be missed by many. Rest in peace.

Sally, Caleb, and family,

The loss of your husband and father touches us all. Although our family did not know Tom very well, he was a leader in his son's Troop and that leadership made an impression on us all.

May God keep you in His grace while we keep you in our prayers.

The McGlashan Family

I have Tom to thank for getting me into the ophthalmic business that I am in today. I was working for CIBA Vision in the lens care department for a few years and Tom convinced me to come over to the ophthalmic part of the company; a decision I am very happy that I made. I will always remember Tom as a very passionate person. If he believed in an issue he would fight for it with all his heart and ability. And I smile this moment seeing him say hello to me in that bellowing voice and cheshire...

Tom and I played football, camped out and had some very memorable times at Briarwood. There were about five of us who tried to wreslte him and pin him on one camping trip back then and we never could pin him...he just kept jumping up and would yell...EL MONGOL CAN NEVER BE PINNED!!" His big spirit has stayed with me all of these long years. After a time the pain of his passing will fade and we be left with the many fond memories of "EL MONGOL". God speed and save us all a place at the table.

I met Tom in 1980, he was 26 and I was 25.We were kids and often talk how we were going to take the world by storm. We worked together, we played together. We partied, we laughed and we argued. We loved each other and we hated each other. We told each other "I love you man" side by side at a urinal at an Alphretta restaurant the night before I moved to Montana. We saw the city together and we saw the top of the mountains together. He was around when I got married, one of only six. He was...