Tom Morain

Somehow it seems fitting that I am among Tom´s "Other Friends"-we don´t share the same gene pool, we´ve never lived in the same town, and we have never worked together. If I told Tom that in my life he fits into the "Best People I Have Ever Known" category, he´d likely quip, "I won´t belong to any organization that would have me as a member." The first couple of times my husband and I met up with Tom, he was polite. But when we stayed at the Morain home in Ames, his true colors...

A friend from Graceland College days, with a warm and delightful sense of humor.

Tom and I worked together on the Graceland Tower my senior year and his freshman year (1965-66). I was the editor and he was the copy editor. By November we had discovered Tom's exceptional wit, and he began to write a column called The Stinger. Some quips from his columns:
"Finally the dress policy has been settled. Students will definitely be permitted to wear shorts on campus between Christmas and New Year's."
"A crisis has arisen from the extensive tree-cutting on campus. If...

I remember Tom's great giggle and enthusiasm for life. Tom and Vikki hosted a Christmas sing along at their home in Ames that we hot to be a part of. They always have fun.

I cut Tom's hair a few times and always enjoyed our one on one conversations.

We had a grand time at Living History Farms when they invited us and hosted a meal at the 1930s home and afterwards we played games in the parlor. Diana (our daughter) especially liked Button, Button Who's Got The Button....

Tom was such a wonderful bundle of joy! He turned pages for me when we were both in a concert choir together and loved to tease me, but knew when to be serious as well. He touched so many lives and will be deeply missed.

Tom was a renaissance man. Whatever he did, he did with exceeding superiority. While I left his hometown while in 5th grade, I managed to hear of Tom's accomplishments from time to time. He is gone, but his humanity lives on.

Oh yes, now that is a beautiful and perfect description, "the epitome of contagious joy." Tom was beloved by SO many - including my whole extended family. I will hold on to a memory of finding the last seat available in the very first pew in the Lamoni Church during a Graceland Homecoming, directly behind Tom on the piano bench. I soaked up every single note and smiled throughout. Thank you for your beautiful gifts of both music AND words, Tom Morain. You truly did make the ordinary...

I grew up in Ames and have known Tom and his family my entire life. I have admired and respected him for that long, as well. If anyone were to ask me, the sun rose and set on Tom sitting at a keyboard.

Tom was, is, and will forever be, the only accompanist I will ever trust and feel comfortable singing with - that's why I've used accompaniment cassettes or CDs since Tom and family moved away from Ames.

As it stands, I will never again be able to listen to Amazing...

This is a beautifully written tribute graced with humor that I'm sure he would have enjoyed.
I was one of Mr. Morain's Iowa History students at ISU. He did an excellent job of making the subject interesting, and after all these years I still remembered his name while I have forgotten those of most of my other teachers.
My sympathy to the family.