W. Thomas Hallam – 1933-2017

It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Tom Hallam, the second original member of Mondongueros, and beloved Dictator from 1992 until 2007. Tom was dedicated to seeing that Mondongueros continued and thrived as most of the original members passed, and we can all thank him for his tireless efforts that set the stage for its continued expansion under the succeeding Dictatorship of Gary Edwards.

Born in Tennessee on 26 July, 1933, Tom was all but a native of Reno, having moved here when he was a small boy.

After high school graduation, Tom served in the military during the Korean Conflict. Returning to Reno after discharge, he attended and graduated from the University of Nevada, and became a high school teacher of government and history.

It was while teaching high school that he became interested in flying, took lessons and obtained his private pilot’s license. Another career change was in the wind, and Tom joined the Reno Police Department, where he served for 10 years. Supplementing his work for the police department by studying for and obtaining his insurance agent’s license, Tom was soon persuaded to work in the insurance field full-time.

Tom was an initial member of Club de los Mondongueros Reno, and the acceptance by Dictator Clarence Crawford of the original charter and first meeting of the initial members in September 1984 were conducted at Tom’s home in Hidden Valley. In 1992, our original Dictator and first original member Clarence Crawford became ill, and asked Tom to assume the duties as our Second Dictator.

After retirement from the insurance business, Tom returned to part-time teaching as a substitute teacher with the Reno school system, and continued his duties as Dictator. In 2007, working to recover from cancer made it difficult for Tom to work as our Dictator, and he designated Gary Edwards as our Third Dictator.

Tom successfully beat lymphoma twice, but over the past several years his health progressively deteriorated. He continued to serve as Dictator Emeritus until his death on 14 December 2017 at the VA Hospital Hospice Unit in Reno. Wife Florsita, son Rick and daughter Cindy were with Tom as he passed.

The family has announced that a memorial service will be held on Friday, 05 January 2018, at Grace Church, 1220 Robb Drive in West Reno, and beginning at 2:00 pm.

Dictator Gary Edwards has announced the Annual Spouses’ Dinner will be held on the evening of Saturday, 20 January 2018, in a meeting room on the lower level of the Eldorado Hotel and Casino in downtown Reno. This annual function is the one event where we dress above “casual”, and give our spouses or significant others some insight into the Club de los Mondongueros.

Cocktails will begin at 6:00 pm, and dinner at 7:00 pm.

An after-dinner presentation related to aviation is planned.

Members will be asked by the Dictator to specify their menu choices for the Annual Dinner at regular lunch meetings a few weeks before the event.

Photographs taken at the Spouses’ Dinner will be included on the 2017 Edition of the Mondongueros Photo Album, and will be distributed to all members on DVD at the regular lunch meetings in March 2018.

Those members who still have not provided the long-requested photographs from their past are encouraged to submit several to the Web Master before January 1, 2018, so they may be included within the updated Photo Album. The web-site post on the subject of “requested photographs” may be consulted for details.