Thomas Willis (Dr. Tom)

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Thomas William Willis (Dr. Tom), 66, of Cookeville passed away from this life on Sunday afternoon, July 19, 2009. Visitation will be at his home “White Plains” on the Old Walton Road Wednesday, July 22 from 5-9 PM. Graveside services in the Smyrna Cemetery will be held Thursday, July 23, at 11 am officiated by Dr. Jann Culp.
Thomas was born September 20, 1942 to Thomas Houston and Jessie Isabelle Zeigler Willis in Selma, AL. He graduated from Parrish High School in Selma. He received his B.A. in History from Livingston College. He taught American History at Southside High School in Selma, AL. for five years. During that time he was elected President of the Dallas County Teacher’s Assoc. The next five years he served as Supervisor of Diagnostic and Educational Services and Supervisor of Educational Day Program for Central Alabama Youth Services in Selma, AL. During this time, he earned his Master’s Degree in School Administration from the University of Alabama. He earned his Doctorate in Special Education in 1979 from the University of Alabama. That same year, Tennessee Technological University advertised for his specialty in learning disabilities and Gifted Education; so Tom moved to Cookeville to pursue his career in teaching and his passion for the Tennessee Walking Horse. He was employed at TTU for over 30 years.
His career, as well as his life’s work, inspired future and present teachers of Special Education to love the field of teaching children with disabilities. He was the “Pro-gram Director of Tennessee Tech’s Science Enrichment for Females” in the fields of Math and Science. For twenty-two years, he directed the Special Education Teacher’s Institute.
He served as President of the Alabama Assoc. of Children with Learning Disabilities (1978)where he was the recipient of the Outstanding Past President Award. He served as President of the Upper Cumberland Council for Exceptional Children (1980-1981). He also served as faculty advisor to the Student Council for Exceptional Children for many years. He was nominated for TTU’s Outstanding Teaching Faculty Award on four different occasions. He served as President for the Tennessee Assoc. for Gifted (TAG) in the early nineties. He also served as Director of “Base 10” (Be a Special Educator in Tennessee) a state funded program to help persons become Special Education teachers.
He raised, trained, and showed several outstanding show horses and colts. Among his winners were “Winston’s Big Secret” Reserved World Grand Champion, Owned and Trained Walking Horse, “The Hickory Stick” World Champion Yearling Colt and Reserved World’s Champion Yearling, “Mitchie’s KV” 1987 three year old Plantation World Champion, and most recently, “Fashion’s Sunnie Attraction” 2008 FOSH North American Champion and 2008 Highpoint Versatility Champion. He is survived by his wife: Martha Elizabeth Summers Shanks Willis; one stepdaughter: Chrissa Elizabeth Shanks Goin (Gary Lee); one step grandson: Jacob Alan Goin; two brothers: Bobby Hughes Willis (Leigh) and Benny Zeigler Willis of Selma, AL. two nieces: Melanie Willis Blair (Walter) of Falls Church, VA. and Jessica Willis of Selma, AL. Other members of the family are brother-in-law Harvey Louis Summers (Cathy) of Cookeville and his children Robert Harvey Summers (Elizabeth), Sarah Alison Summers Baisley (Andrew) and Matthew Howell Summers (Nicahole) along with three step nephews.
He was very proud of his many memberships including the Sons of the American Revolution.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations should be sent to the Tennessee Technological University Education Foundation, in memory of Dr Tom Willis, TTU Box 1915 Cookeville, TN. 38505 or the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School Special Education Dept. in Grant, Alabama (Make checks payable to TSDAR and on the “for” line write “KDS-DAR Tom Willis” and send to Charlotte Reynolds, TSDAR State Treasurer, 244 Ridgeway Crossville, TN. 3855-8457.