|
Jul
23
|
Southern Gentlemen Passes
|
By Mary Ann |
Jul 23, 2012,
12:00 AM ET
Condolences are offered to the
family of Thomas Carmody, 80, a veteran Shreveport, Louisiana, oilman, and
well-known Southern senior badminton champion, who passed away July 17, 2012,
of complications following surgery. Tom was a long-time member of the
Shreveport Badminton Club, and welcomed players to club venues from the
downtown YMCA to the LSU-Shreveport fieldhouse from the 1950's on. He was
the inspiration for this writer's beginning career, letting me slip into the
YMCA once a week after work in the summer to try to compete with the local
men's doubles teams. He was a real gentleman, kind, loving, and always
with a twinkle in his eye.
Tom was born January 7, 1932, in
Shreveport, and graduated from Georgetown University and Centenary
College. He was president of Mallard
Drilling Corporation and Gloster Lumber Company, and remained active in the oil
and gas business until his death. A
longtime director of the Southern Badminton Association, he served several
terms as President.
Tom won the National Seniors’
Badminton tournament doubles competition in Orlando, Florida, in 1984. He also won the following National Senior
Men’s Doubles titles: 50MD with Dick
Witte (MO) in 1982; 60MD with Duane Enochs (CA) in 1995 and 1996; and 70MD with
Duane Enochs in 1996, 1997, and 2003. He
was inducted into the Ark-La-Tex Sports Museum of Champions in 1992, the only
badminton player in the museum from the Ark-La-Tex. In his last years, he coached badminton as
adjunct professor at Louisiana State University-Shreveport.
Tom is survived by his wife of 56
years, Katherine; 12 children; 28 grandchildren; and a brother and
sister. A Mass of the Resurrection was held Friday, July 20, at St.
Joseph Catholic Church, with burial at Forest Park Cemetery. Honorary
pallbearers included Joe Averett, another longtime Shreveport badminton player.