Herald Democrat (Sherman, Texas)
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
Thomas E. Spellman, 91, passed away on Friday, October 26, 2007. Services for Mr. Spellman will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 31, 1007 at Dannel Funeral Home. A graveside service will follow at West Hill Cemetery in Sherman. Officiating will be Reverend James McLeod, of Brenham Presbyterian Church, where Mr. Spellman was a member since 2001.
Tom was born on July 29, 1916 in Forney, Texas, the son of Michael Spellman, Sr. and Carrie Huffines Spellman. He graduated from North Texas A&M College in Arlington with a degree in Industrial Radio Engineering. He also completed technical training at Port Arthur College and the U. S. Army Air Force Technical Training School at Yale University. He completed additional credits at Western Electric-Bell Telephone Laboratories in New York City.
On June 28, 1942, he married Elizabeth Jean Thompson, of Durant, OK. Tom and Jean were both actively involved in the community, and they had completed almost fifty-eight years of marriage at the time of her death on June 19, 2000. They had been longtime members of Trinity Presbyterian Church, where he served on the board of Elders.
They had a daughter, Patti, and a son, Michael.
Following more than three years in the U. S. Army Air Force during WWII, Tom returned to Texas to begin a lifelong career in radio. He was employed 25 years as manager of KRRV Radio, and he owned and operated KTXO Radio for eight years. Then he established radio station KZIM-FM (nowKMT0) in Sherman-Denison. Then he established KAGC Radio in Bryan and KSKS in Conroe. He served as owner-operator of radio station KAFM (KLAK) in
Durant-Denison-Sherman. He taught radio broadcasting technology for twelve years at Grayson County College. For more than forty years he served as a radio service engineer for the city of Sherman, overseeing the emergency two-way radio services for the fire and police departments. He played a similar role for the Grayson County Sheriff’s Department.
A member of the Sherman Kiwanis Club for more than 40 years, Mr. Spellman served on the Kiwanis board and was a past board member of the Sherman Chamber of Commerce. As a director of Sherman Area Campfire Girls, he received the Gulich Award. He was a member of American Legion Post 29.
He was a 32nd degree Mason and member of Grayson County Scottish Rite and Hella Temple Shrine.
Mr. Spellman was predeceased by his wife; his parents; two brother, Troy and Mick, Jr.; three sisters, Patsy, Coreen and Helen. He is survived by his daughter, Patti Kuhn and husband Mike of Brenham; son Mike and wife Cindy of Shoreview, Minnesota; two grandsons, Christopher and Kevin Kuhn.
The family will receive friends at Dannel Funeral on Tuesday evening, October 30, 2007 between 6 and 7 p.m. You may sign the online guestbook at dannelfuneralhome.com
If desired, memorials may be made to Brenham Presbyterian Church, 1005 Green St., Brenham, Texas 77833.
