THOMAS M. VICKERS

Vickers, Thomas M. "Tommy" Born Sept. 7, 1937, Wichita, Kansas. Died March 3, 2010. "Tommy" Vickers, 72, member of noted golf family. Colorado lost one of its most avid sportsmen and enthusiastic fans this week with the passing of Thomas M."Tommy" Vickers, 72, a transplanted Kansan and youngest of five brothers known nationally for their golfing prowess and prominence. He died Wednesday, March 3, aftera long illness. Said former Broncos quarterback and friend John Elway: "Tommy was a great sportsman from a family of great sportsmen and he will be missed." Mr. Vickers was a well-known business entrepreneur. In Kansas, just out of college, he built his first shopping center at 21 and, while still in his 20s, a restaurant and nightclub in Wichita. In addition to being an ardent fan and season ticket holder of numerous Colorado pro and college sports team, he was friends with many of the owners, coaches and players. Mr. Vickers was a member of the Wichita State golf team and became a big supporter of its athletics. Later he was a pioneer in helping found the Missouri Valley Conference television network for basketball. It was through golf he became best known, however, both as an accomplished amateur and member of the Vickers family golfing dynasty. He and his brothers carried single digit golf handicaps and competed nationwide. He played in two U.S. Amateur Championships, as well as making nine appearances in the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am. "At one time I think the five of us carried a nine-handicap collectively," said brother Jimmy, a resident of Southern California and a former NCAA golf champion at the University of Oklahoma. Tommy was born in Wichita, Kansas and, through his business as a land developer, moved to Cherry Hills Village in the mid-1980s where he was an active golfer and member at Cherry Hills Country Club. A few years later he moved to Castle Pines, where he was a member of Castle Pines Golf Club and a key figure in The International golf tournament. He and his family were longtime members at The Broadmoor, where Tommy began playing as an 11-year-old junior member and ranked as the longest living active member (60 years). Mr. Vickers was also active in numerous charitable organizations, including The Gathering Place. He was husband of Rhonda, father of Corie (Stuart) Rogers & Bo (Natalie) Vickers. Grandfather of Beckett Rogers. Brother of Pat Sinclair, Jack A. Vickers, Paula Petrie, Jimmy Vickers & Byrne Vickers. He was preceded in death by sister Helen Clark and brother Bobby Vickers. Visitation, Sunday, 5pm-7pm, Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 5303 E. County Line Rd. Funeral Mass, Monday, 11am, St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 8035 S. Quebec St. Interment, Cedar Hill Cemetery, Castle Rock. Donations suggested to The Gathering Place, Dumb Friends League or Sacred Heart Retreat House. Pallbearers: Jack Clevenger, Fred Embry, Eddie Johnson, Buddy Martin, Marty Ravin, Inder Singh, Tom Triplett and Nestor Weigand. Honorary Pallbearers: Steve Bartolin, Bryant Martin, Keith Schneider, Keith Weber.