 SQUIRES,
Thomas William Age 63 of Franklin. December 19, 2011. Award-winning
sports journalist Tom Squires, a veteran of 17 years with The
Tennessean and a member of the startup team that launched USA Today,
Died: Monday, December 19, 2011 at his home in Franklin from
complications resulting from his 10-year battle with Alzheimer's
disease (Front temporal dementia). He was 63. A native of Madison,
Tom was a star basketball player at Madison High School wearing the
famous orange and white polka dots uniforms once featured in Life
Magazine. A speedy 5'8" defensive whiz, he attended Austin Peay
University as a walk-on for the Governors, but opted instead for a
career in sports journalism. He began working at The Tennessean
part-time in 1966, landing a full time position a year later as the
newspaper's prep editor, a job he held for ten years and eventually
earned him recognition in the Middle Tennessee Coaches' High School
Hall of Fame in both football and basketball. His coverage of the
Nashville Sounds baseball team during his last five years at The
Tennessean won him the Southern League Sportswriter Award in 1979.
In 1982, Squires was selected to be on the Gannett Company's
start-up team to launch USA Today in Arlington, Virginia where as
layout editor he designed the first USA Today sports page. In 1985,
he was selected to be on the start-up team to launch a local paper,
Florida Today, that serves Cocoa Beach and Melbourne and served 12
years there, first as editor of its widely acclaimed sports section.
In 1987, he was named Assistant Managing Editor with responsibility
for features, graphics, and photo departments, as well as the sports
department. In 1998, Tom resigned from the Gannett Company to return
home to Nashville to start three new sports publications. He
launched Titans Exclusive, the official fan publication of the
Tennessee Titans; SportsNashville, a weekly sports magazine covering
high schools, colleges, and professional sports; and Kats Klaw, the
first Arena League team publication of the Nashville Kats. In
October of 2002, the Gannett Company purchased all of the
publications and re-hired Tom to oversee all the online sports on
Tennessean.com. He was the online Sports Editor until September of
2004 when he retired for health reasons after more than 37 years in
journalism. Despite his worsening condition he was able to play both
golf and the harmonica with his friends and relatives until late
last year. Among Squires' other awards were The Distinguished
Alumnus Award from Madison High School, the Distinguished Service
Award from the Black Coaches Association, and induction into the
Metropolitan Public Schools Sports Hall of Fame. Tom was a member of
Holy Family Catholic Church in Brentwood. He is preceded in death by
his parents, Billye White Squires, John Squires. Survivors include
his wife of 36 years, the former Brenda Harper, their son Chandler
of Franklin; a sister, Sallie (Derrick) Jansen of Nashville, and
three brothers, Jim (Mary Ann) Squires of Versailles, Kentucky, John
(Susan) Squires of Travelers Rest, South Carolina and Raleigh
(Cynthia) Squires of Nashville. Honorary Pallbearers in addition to
his brothers and son will be Ron Bargatze, Ronnie Carter, Bob
Frensley, James H. Fyke, Doug Jones, Tucker Petre, Richard Purcell,
Joe Reasonover, Bill Sargent, John F. Squires, Jon Squires and Frank
Vega. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations should be made to the
Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer's
Association, Willowbrook Hospice in Franklin, The Special Olympics
or the charity of your choice charity of your choice charity of your
choice. A memorial service to celebrate Tom's life will be January
10 at 7 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 9100 Crockett Rd.,
Brentwood, TN 37027. The Squires family will receive friends from 6
p.m. until the time of service at Holy Family Catholic Church.
SPRING HILL FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY, 5110 Gallatin Pike, Nashville,
www.springhillfh.com. (615)865-1101. www.springhillfh.com |
