Tom HAMLIN

News Death Notice

HAMLIN, Tom Age 88, passed away suddenly on October 29, 2015 in Kettering, Ohio. He was a 55 year resident of Kettering. This talkative, sports and animal loving man was known for hard work, strong opinions and an unfaltering memory for details. He grew up on a small farm outside of Franklin, OH, the 3rd of five children of Harlin and Martha Hamlin. He learned his work ethic early, at his dad's side in the tobacco fields. The radio opened up his world, and he spent many a day listening to the Cincinnati Reds broadcasts. So much so, his oldest brother declared Tom sports mad - and urged his mother to punish that boy. She declined, and the rest is history. He went on to school in Carlisle, OH. A graduating class of 13 allowed him to try his hand at everything from band to sports, even changing their football uniforms at half-time to play in the band. One day, new basketball team uniforms showed up at Carlisle, much to the surprise of the school superintendent. Tom stepped up to explain he found the old uniforms unsightly. On his own he decided to purchase the new uniforms himself with money he had earned from a paper drive. During WWII, Tom joined the Marines at age 17. His unit trained for a beach invasion of Japan. The bombing of Japan lead to the abrupt end of the war and his unit's mission was cancelled. He always said he was alive because of the dropping of the Atomic bomb. Like many GIs he was off to college thanks to the GI bill. He chose to study journalism at Ohio Wesleyan University. He became a Sigma Chi, wearing his ring proudly till the day he died. In college he met his "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi," Phyllis Hazelwood of Middletown, Ohio. He dated, serenaded and then he and Phyllis were married in 1953. Tom's broadcasting career took them from Portsmouth, to Lima and then Mansfield, Ohio. Next they moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where he soon became the voice of Auburn university sports. In 1960 Tom's sportscasting career brought them back to Dayton when he accepted a job at WHIO-TV. During his 34 year tenure in Dayton, he was a sports broadcaster on both channels 7 and 22. He was best known for broadcasting football and basketball for University of Dayton Flyers, Ohio State Buckeyes, Central State Marauders and Wright State Raiders. He did preseason games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for several years. He won many awards for his broadcasting career, including his induction into the Ohio Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2003. He was a sports visionary. With Tom's help in 1962 WHIO televised the NCAA Men's Basketball championship on a network of stations for the first time. This event is now known to all as March Madness. He also inspired the Aviation bowl, a football game held in Dayton on December 9, 1961. It was a one and done idea, as the weather didn't cooperate, being unseasonably cold and miserable in Dayton that day. His hobbies included running with his well-loved schnauzers, traveling and being a pilot. He was also active in the community. He was the Dayton Jaycees Citizen of the Year in 1968. He was on the board of the Greater Dayton Humane society for many years. His second career was in real estate with Hearth and Big Hill Realty. He was known as straight forward and honest realtor and enjoyed the work very much. He is survived by his sister Mary Ann (Hamlin) Doliboa of Franklin Ohio; Margo (Bill) Hutchison of St. Paul, MN; Chuck (Terri) Hamlin of Dayton, Ohio. He has 5 grandchildren; Dustin, Eric and Hannah Hamlin and Luke and Ellie Hutchison. He is preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Phyllis Hamlin. A memorial service and celebration of his life will be Monday November 23,, 2015. The service will be in Carlisle and the visitation/Toast to Tom will be in Dayton. The service is at 11:00 AM at New Jersey Presbyterian Church, 780 Fairview Dr. Carlisle, OH 45005. The visitation is from 4:00-7:30 PM at the UD Arena, Boesch Lounge, 1801 S. Edwin C Moses Blvd. Dayton OH 45417. Enter lot B and look for the Event board outside the door. His service and visitation are open to the public. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, 1661 Nicholas Rd. Dayton, OH 45417.