In the not too distant past, TR had answered a question from a parent in the "ask the umpire forum".....and as it was a correct text book answer, I congratulated him and offered to send him a Blue Umpire jersey so he could cross over the "dark side"....
His answer was classic TRHIT.... mostly unprintable here....lol...
His disdain for those of us in blue was legendary and he never failed to let us know his opinion. You knew where he stood on a baseball issue. He was a mainstay here at HSBBW.
Over the weekend I came across an old letter from him/college select regarding my son during his time being recruited with an offer to assist. Coach or Umpire didn't matter when it was a player that needed his help. I will never forget that.
In my daily devotions, I will hold up Tom and his family for mercies from the "Chief Umpire".....Tom might have gotten a chuckle out of that...