Thomas Wesley Maddox died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012, at Big Sky Alzheimer’s Unit, one day after his 95th birthday. He was born Aug. 22, 1917, in Columbus, Ohio, the son of Lawrence and Veral Maddox.
Tom was a journalist his entire life. He started his career at the age of 9 delivering papers. He worked in Columbus, Ohio, at the Ohio State Journal, the Columbus Dispatch and the Columbus Citizen. After graduating from the Ohio State University, he joined the Associated Press. His first transfer was to Indianapolis, where he worked on the Indianapolis Star. Next transfer was to Centralia, Ill. He had been offered transfers to Rio, London, Lexington, Ky. Tom finally accepted a transfer to Helena in December 1952 at the request of Gov. Hugo Aaronson.
Tom was Associated Press bureau chief in Helena for 10 years. He declined a transfer to New York City, preferring to remain in Montana. During his AP years, Tom “covered†many interesting stories from major disasters to presidential campaigns.
Tom became executive director for the Montana Realtors, Independent Insurance Agents and Montana Association of Tobacco and Candy Distributors. He finally retired in 1992.
Tom married Marilyn Melick on Oct. 12, 1941, in Bexley, Ohio. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2011. On Tom’s 94th birthday, he enjoyed a cruise through the Gates of the Mountains with many longtime friends. The cruise ended with a birthday party at Casa Rio, their cabin on the Missouri. Tom never forgot that day.
Planting trees and gardening were his hobbies, along with RV travels and correcting errors in Montana newspapers, which he did daily.
Tom and Marilyn always had canine companions. A Wheaten terrier named Mister topped their list, followed closely by Jack and Jill, the schnauzers.
Tom enjoyed many years as an Algeria Temple Shrine clown. He was a member of Helena Lodge No. 3 and felt honored to be the master of Boulder Lodge No. 41. He was a Mason for over 63 years. He was also a member of Sigma Delta Chi national journalism fraternity. Tom was a member of the Scottish Rite and served in many positions.
Tom was a member of the Montana Club since 1954. He was inducted into the Oglala Sioux Tribe as Chief Red Cloud (honorary). In the same ceremony, Gov. Adlai Stevenson of Illinois was inducted into the Blackfeet Tribe.
Survivors include his wife, Marilyn; daughter Sharon Moon of Helena; daughter Susan Ayres and husband, Russ, of Clancy; six grandchildren, Dianna Thompson (Pete) of Helena, Angela Heth (Ty) of Stevensville, Jennifer Navarro (Roland) of Salt Lake City, Sarah Bagg (Kenneth) of Helena, Erika Blaine (Jake) of Great Falls and David Moon of Helena.
Also surviving are 14 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren, two nephews in Ohio and a niece in Florida.
Everyone is welcome to attend a Masonic memorial service for Tom at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept., 1 in the Masons Lodge in Boulder.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be made to Boulder/Basin Lodge No. 41, P.O Box 275, Clancy, MT 59634; or the Shrine Hospital Transportation Fund, P.O. Box 1174, Helena MT 59601.
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