Thomas Hayes Carll

Thomas Hayes Carll (Tommy/Tom/T.C.) left this earthly realm on April 6th 2023, a week before his 80th birthday. He passed in Salado, Texas and is preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Cheek Carll and his father, William “Bill” Elijah Carll. He is survived by wife Susan, daughter Stephanie, granddaughter Siva Marie, sister Carolynn and husband Matt, brother Pinky and wife Franny, and numerous nieces, nephews, brothers– and sisters–in–law.

Thomas Hayes Carll, everyone’s hero, was born on April 13th, 1943, in Bryan, Texas to Bill and Dorothy Carll. The middle child to little sister Carolynn and big brother Pinky, Tommy was the peacekeeper and over-achiever of his family. He excelled in school and at sports, playing football, baseball, and basketball, and earning the nickname “Cotton” because of his snowy white hair. After graduating from Stephen F. Austin High School with all straight A’s —except for that one dadgum B in typing class! — Tommy received a Principal Appointment to the prestigious United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.

Some of his happiest years were spent at USMA, where as a cadet, Tom wrestled and played baseball — and legendarily threw out Mickey Mantle during an exhibition game with the Yankees. Upon graduating West Point in 1965 — with honors, of course — Tom completed Army Ranger and Airborne Training and was then deployed to Vietnam, where he served two tours until 1969. In his first tour, he led a platoon in the 25th Infantry Division; his second tour, he was promoted to Company Commander/Operations Officer for the 9th Infantry Division. Between tours, he was invited to be an instructor at Mountain Ranger School in Dahlonega, Georgia. Major Carll was highly decorated for his honorable service: a Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters, a Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster, an Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters, a Meritorious Service medal with oak leaf cluster, an Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with a gold star. Upon Tom’s return from Vietnam, he was stationed at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Georgia, where he met future wife Suzanne. In 1972, he was transferred to Fort Bragg where he again was Company Commander, but this time for the 82nd Airborne Division. In 1974, Tom was invited back to one of his favorite places on Earth, West Point. In order to be a Principal Instructor and Testing Officer in the West Point Physical Education Department, Tom obtained a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Indiana University. He and Suzanne stayed at West Point through 1977, where they sponsored four cadets with weekly dinners, but Major Carll undoubtedly made many cadets’ lives hell. Truth be told, he was a hard-ass with the highest of expectations, but his heart of gold and impeccable integrity deeply inspired his students, peers, family, and friends beyond measure — and will continue to as long as his memory lives on.

In 1974, Tom married Suzanne Wheeler in the chapel at Fort McPherson, and after he left the Army in 1977, they returned to College Station and had a daughter, Stephanie, of whom Tom was incredibly proud. Over the next nine years, Tom engaged his love of physical fitness by opening Woodstone Nautilus and Court Club and Healthtime of Texas. In 1986, the Texas economy had other plans, so Tom joined the staff of Blinn College and Texas A&M as a Lecturer, where he taught physical education curriculum to young Aggies —surely making his father Bill, the ultimate Aggie, beam with joy. Tom and Suzanne separated in 1982, and Suzanne and Stephanie relocated to Atlanta, but Stephanie traveled back to Texas each month to spend weekends and summers with her Daddy. In the meantime, Thomas met Susan Daly at the club, and they began a courtship. Needing a change and a leg up on the next phase of his life, Tom left Texas for Tacoma, Washington in 1988, where for the next decade he helped his brother, Pinky, build CEcon Corporation, an environmental remediation organization. Susan joined him there in 1990.

In 1993, after ten-years together, Thomas “married his best friend” Susan while barefoot on a beach in St. Thomas, BVI. Stephanie joined them in Tacoma for high school, where Thomas became the front-row and courtside dad, supporting his daughter’s sports, theatre, and choral endeavors. After a highly successful career as Project Manager and Consultant, Thomas was invited back to work for the U.S. Army, this time working for the Corps of Engineers. After a year traveling 22 states in an Airstream, golfing and fishing their way around the country, Thomas and Susan embarked on many more adventures. His work with the Corps allowed them to relocate to Colorado Springs, Virginia, Hawaii, and finally, back to his beloved Texas in Salado. Thomas retired as a civilian from the Army at Fort Hood in 2011, and he and Susan rounded out their nearly 40 years together with traveling, casinos, numerous nieces and nephews, and a granddaughter, Siva Marie, born in 2018.

Tom loved being a father and a husband––these two things brought him the greatest joy in life. A true family man, Thomas was also a devoted son and brother, and dear friend to many. His West Point Class of 1965 Classmates are like brothers to him — and more than one claims teary-eyed that “Tom Carll saved my life!” His intense eye contact and firm handshake intimidated many a young man at Stephanie’s high school, but his infectious laugh, warm smile, and generous spirit would immediately put anyone at ease. He was a disciplined military man, full of love for his country, but he was also a silly goose. When asked to describe Thomas, it is rare to not hear one say the words “integrity,” “virtue,” and “honor.” He was a hero, but not just of the military. He was a hero of all men and creatures, and a hero of our hearts.

And when our work is done,

Our course on Earth is run,

May it be said, "Well done:

Be thou at peace."

A Celebration of the life of Thomas Hayes Carll will be held on July 8th, 2023, from 2-5pm at the Brazos Cotton Exchange Building in Bryan, Texas. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Tunnels to Towers. Details below.