Thomas M. Carlson

It is with great sadness that we report the death of longtime Professor of English Thomas M. (Tam) Carlson, C'63. A graduate of the University, Carlson returned to Sewanee in 1968 as an editorial assistant to his mentor and lifelong friend Andrew Lytle, editor of the Sewanee Review. He joined the Sewanee faculty as an instructor of English in 1969, rose through the ranks to professor in 1984, and served on the faculty until his death. He taught a wide range of courses in English and American literature. Among his favorite and most popular classes were honors seminars on American writers, including Melville, Welty, O'Connor, Faulkner, Percy, and McCarthy. In addition to being an inspired and brilliant teacher and a dedicated scholar, Carlson was a deeply loyal and always caring friend to colleagues, community members, and University alumni. He epitomized the development of lifelong relationships between students and faculty at the core of the Sewanee experience, and his legacy of hospitality, witnessed by generations of alumni who made the pilgrimage to the Carlsons' home, year after year, will remain unmatched. Carlson's legacy also lives on in the William Ralston Listening Library and Archive, one of the acoustically finest listening spaces in the world. As a tribute to Sewanee alumnus and professor Fr. William Raulston, C'51, Carlson not only conceived the idea for the facility, but he and his wife, Chris, spent countless hours researching equipment, furnishings, and fixtures; developing and overseeing programming for the space; and connecting with alumni and friends of the University to secure the financial support needed for establishing this unique treasure aimed at spreading appreciation for great music and audio. His legacy will also remain at the University Archives, the former home of the Kappa Sigma fraternity for which he served as president in 1962. Along with close friend and benefactor William (Bill) Laurie, C'52, Carlson led an effort to build a new and comprehensive center for the University's historical artifacts. A funeral service will be held at All Saints' Chapel at 2 p.m. on July 27, followed by a reception at the William Ralston Listening Library and Archive at duPont Library. Moore-Cortner Funeral Home, 300 First Ave NW, Winchester, TN 37398, (931)-967-2222, www.moorecortner.com.