Tommie Edward Lohman
COLLEGE STATION, TX - Tommie Edward Lohman, age 74, passed away peacefully after a valiant nine month battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, in his College Station home on Saturday morning, the 4th of February 2012, while surrounded by his family.
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on the 29th of April 1937, Tommie grew up in the oil patch, learning the business from the ground up with his "wildcatter" father. Tommie attended Byrd High School in Shreveport and then went on to Texas A&M, earning a petroleum engineering degree (Class of '59).
Tommie met the love of his life and wife of 53 years, Carolyn, while working in the oil field outside Quitman, Texas, during a summer internship preceding his final year at A&M. After only a few days he knew that he wanted Carolyn to be his bride. They married five months later, between semesters of his senior year, and began their life together in College Station.
A member of the Aggie Corp of Cadets B-AAA Company, Tommie went on to serve in the U.S. Army retiring with the rank of Capt.
Upon graduation Tommie and Carolyn moved to Beeville, Texas, where Tommie began a lifelong career in the oil and gas industry. The majority of his career was spent in Dallas and Houston, as an executive with Texas Oil & Gas, and as President of Delhi Gas Pipeline. Tommie was a hard driving negotiator who loved going to work each day. He always said his profession wasn't "work" to him. Dedicated to investing his time and energy helping in the development of young people, Tommie became a mentor to many young men who went on to be successful in that field.
In retirement, Tommie had two passions: his family and Texas A&M University.
Vibrant and authentic, the moments Tommie valued most were the times he spent with Carolyn, their children and grandchildren, to whom he was loyally devoted. Whether rocking the babies to sleep, decorating their birthday cakes, watching them play ball, skiing with them on the "black diamond" ski runs at "Skistone", exploring London or golfing together in Scotland, there was nowhere Tommie would rather be than with his family.
Tommie was a passionate supporter of Aggie athletics, the College of Engineering and the College of Education. One of his last great joys was attending the 2011 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Game and watching "his girls" win! Always a fierce competitor and devoted Aggie supporter courtside, on the field and in the classroom, Tommie deeply valued the opportunity to contribute to the development of young people's character and to enable students to meet their potential and to succeed in life.
Tommie's determination, hard work and quest for excellence resulted in many honors. In 2004, he was presented the Dwight Look College of Engineering Outstanding Alumni Honor Award for his "distinguished leadership and achievements in the oil and gas industry; for extensive championship and support of numerous programs at Texas A&M, including the Tommie E. and Carolyn S. Lohman '59 Professorship (the sole professorship in the Look College specifically for engineering education); for tireless personal service and leadership as chair of the college's Engineering Advisory Council and for personifying the 12th Man Spirit, always ready to support his alma mater." Tommie is also a past President and Board member of the 12th Man Foundation.
In 2010 Tommie and Carolyn were the first couple inducted into the Texas A&M Letterman's Hall of Honor. Shortly before his death the family was notified that Tommie has been selected as a 2012 Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M, the highest honor bestowed on an Aggie graduate.
Surviving pancreatic cancer in 1993 motivated Tommie and Carolyn to live each day to the fullest. They pursued adventures on all seven continents; learning about different cultures, making friends and exploring the world. They trekked the mountains in Bhutan, rode elephants in Botswana, tracked gorillas in Uganda, sailed the Nile, Amazon, Irawati in Burma, Sepik in Papua New Guinea, survived the Drake passage on the way to Antarctica and rode camels in Timbuktu.
While living in Dallas, Tommie was a long time deacon at First Baptist Church of Richardson, taught senior high Sunday school with Carolyn, and was a "lefty" first baseman on the church softball team. Tommie's faith in Christ was solid and very precious to him. As a result, he approached both Life and Death fearlessly.
Tommie is preceded in death by his father, the late Zeke Lohman Jr. He is survived by his mother, Hazel Lohman; his loving wife, Carolyn Swearingen Lohman; his daughters, Caroline Lohman and Amber Gray; his son-in-law, Cary Gray; and by his grandchildren, Tommy, Will, and Carly Gray, and Cason Lohman. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Dannie and Marilyn Lohman; and by nieces and nephew, Holly Allison, Heather Milam, Glen Lohman; as well as numerous cousins.
Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Tommie from six until nine o'clock in the evening on Tuesday, the 7th of February, in the Lohman Lobby of the Cox-McFerrin Center for Aggie Basketball, which is attached to Reed Arena, 730 Olsen Boulevard in College Station.
The funeral service is to be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Wednesday, the 8th of February, at the First Baptist Church of Bryan, 3100 Cambridge Drive in Bryan, where Pastor David Higgs is to officiate.
The interment is to follow, via an escorted cortege, at Aggie Field of Honor in College Station.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family suggests one's kind consideration of donating blood or platelets to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and coordinating same via their electronic websitewww.mdanderson.org/bloodbank or telephoning 713.792.7777; or, contributing to the Tommie Lohman Fund at the 12th Man Foundation, P.O. Box 2800, College Station, TX, 77841-2800, or telephoning 979-260-7579.
Arrangements in Bryan and College Station are with Geo. H. Lewis & Sons - The Funeral Directors Since 1936, www.geohlewis.com. Those desiring assistance with directions to the service venues may telephone the firm at 713-789-3005.