Tom Smith Crowl

Thomas Smith Crowl, of McAlester, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 14, at the age of 93. The public is invited to a memorial service on Monday, Jan. 22, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of McAlester. Afterwards, there will be a light lunch reception in the fellowship hall of the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shared Blessings, 1558 S. Main St., McAlester, Ok. 74501, or to the First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 1550, McAlester, Ok. 74502..
Thomas Smith Crowl was born in McAlester on September 10, 1930, and was the only son of Alice (Otterson) and Joe Crowl. Tom grew up in McAlester and graduated from McAlester High School in 1948. While in high school, he was very active in sports, participating in football, Basketball, Baseball, and Track. He attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated in 1952. While in college, he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, serving as president his senior year. He was a member of the ROTC and upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Air Force. He served on active duty from July, 1952 until July, 1954, at which time he entered the Air Force Reserve, and served until his retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1980. Most of his reserve years were spent as a liaison officer for the Air Force Academy. Tom married his high school sweetheart, Margene Linthicum, in McAlester on Dec. 27, 1952.
When Tom returned from active-duty military service, he joined the family business, Diamond Hardware and Sporting Goods Company, where he oversaw the sporting goods division. In 1976, he formed a separate business named Diamond Sports, and was the owner/manager for the following twenty-eight years. His time in the sporting goods business totaled fifty years. Tom was recognized b y the National Sporting Goods Association, and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2001.
Tom was an organizer and commissioner of the Youth Baseball Association, the original Little League Baseball in McAlester. He was on the organizing committee and later the first Board of Directors of the Boys Club, which became a reality in 1960. At that time the youth Baseball Association was discontinued, and all equipment and uniforms were given to the Boys Club.
Tom was a fifty-five-year member of the McAlester Lions Club, serving as president, and was honored with the Melvin Jones Award by the Lions International.
Tom was involved in several other organizations, including the McAlester Chamber of Commerce, and during his retirement years, he joined the Pittsburg Genealogical and Historical Society. He thoroughly enjoyed researching and giving presentations on local history. He was a life-time member of the First Presbyterian Church, serving as Deacon and an Elder. Tom was a fifty-year member of the McAlester Scottish Rite, Lodge 96, and was appointed Personal Representative of the SGIC. Jhe was awarded the most prestigious Grand Cross of the Court of Honor in 2015, only the third such award granted in the McAlester valley in the last fifty years. He also belonged to the York Rite, the Jesters, and the Red Cross of Constantine, and he was a Shriner. Tom enjoyed a fifty-year membership in the McAlester Country Club and served as president of the Thursday Night Dance Club. He was also a member of the American Legion.
Tom's life seemed to revolve around sports. In addition to active participation in high school, he enjoyed golf and softball, and was honored with the Oklahoma Softball Hall of Fame Award. He was an ardent fan of the university of Oklahoma sports teams and shouted "Boomer Sooner" at many of the football games he attended.
Tom is survived by his children, Cindy Crowl Visser and her husband Mrk Visser, Todd Crowl and his wife Marisa Crowl, Mark Crowl and his wife Joy Crowl, and Chassity Click Sherman and her husband Jeff Sherman. There are 10 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Margene Crowl, and his parents, Alice and Joe Crowl.