Tommy was a graduate of Sheffield High in 1953 where he played four years on the Bulldog football squad coached by Walton Wright and A.C. Curry. As a guard on both offense and defense he was co-captain his senior season and was selected o the All Tri-Cities team. In addition to football he played second base on the baseball team and played in the East-West All-Star game in Birmingham at Rickwood Field. Following high school he went on to play three years of baseball for Coach George Weeks at Florence State College batting .410 his final season for the Lions. He continued to play baseball after college for semi-pro teams in both Sheffield and Russellville. He graduated from Florence State in 1957 and is a very successful businessman in the Shoals operating and owning Frederickson Tire and Appliance.