Thomas Lee Maddux

Thomas Lee Maddux, 81, of Weatherford, Texas, died Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. Tom, as he was known to friends and family, was born June 12, 1943, in Ranger, Texas, to William Robert "Bill Bob" and Nora Maddux. He graduated from Weatherford High School in 1961 and pursued education at Weatherford College where he earned an associate's degree, followed by a year studying Spanish in Mexico City at the University of the Americas. He completed his bachelor's and master's degrees in Spanish with a minor in English at the University of Texas in 1966 and 1972, respectively.

Equally as fluent in Spanish and French as in English, Tom was a certified Texas teacher and taught the three languages, plus English as a Second Language (ESL) at the middle school, high school and college levels until his retirement in 1998. He taught primarily in the Houston area, including at Bellaire and Sam Houston High Schools in Houston ISD, Hilliard High School in Bay City and Spring Woods High School in Spring Branch ISD. He also held positions at Rice University and Montgomery County Community College where he taught ESL. Notably, Tom spent 4 years teaching Spanish at Abqaiq Junior High to the children of American employees of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco) in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where he enjoyed traveling the Middle East and Southeast Asia during breaks. While teaching in the U.S., he often spent summers backpacking through England, Spain, Italy and France, or camping and hiking extensively through U.S. state and national parks.

While Tom loved teaching and traveling, perhaps his greatest passion, and what he might have self-described as his overarching achievement, was the work he did in environmental conservation. He was an active member of the Sierra Club, the National Audubon Society and the Texas Land Conservancy, at times lobbying at the Texas state capital for reform in land preservation. A naturalist, Tom knew the names and identifying markers of myriad plants and birds. He loved talking about nature and teaching others identification skills and the importance of preservation. He had a special love for Colorado, summering after his retirement at his property backing to the Rainbow Trail in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Westcliffe. There, he was instrumental in forming the San Isabel Land Protection Trust to acquire and protect large acreage tracts from future development. In Texas, Tom was known for his volunteer work at the Marysee Prairie in Batson. A feature article about Tom's foundational work in helping preserve the prairie, written April 16, 2022, by Claire Campbell for the Texas Land Conservancy website described Tom as a "paragon of dedication to Texas nature." When Tom was asked why he worked so tirelessly there, his answer was simple. "So that we don't make a wreck of the whole Earth." That statement could be said to embody Tom's philosophy in life, whether in teaching his students about other languages, cultures and customs, or in working to preserve natural areas for future generations.

Tom will be greatly missed by many friends and family. He was predeceased by his parents, William Robert "Bill Bob" and Nora Ranspot Maddux of Weatherford, Texas; his sisters Kathryn Maddux Mitchell of Breckenridge, Texas, and Pat Maddux Falls of Springtown, Texas; brothers John Maddux, Bill Maddux and James "Jim" Maddux of Weatherford, Texas; David "Bud" Maddux of Yonkers, New York; and George Allen Maddux of Ranger, Texas, who died as an infant. He is survived by two sisters-in-law, Elaine Maddux of Yonkers, New York, and Frances Maddux of Weatherford, Texas. Additionally, Tom is survived by twelve adoring nieces and nephews and their families who will miss his mentorship in their lives. Donations to honor and continue Tom's legacy in preservation efforts may be made in his name to the Texas Land Conservancy, the Sierra Club or the National Audubon Society. Donations to the Parkinson's Foundation also would be appreciated.