Thanks so much for spending some time weekday mornings with Gina and me here on Warm 106.9. 

By the way, check out my personal site at www.radiotom.com for family pictures and fun links!

What is your hometown?  
 
Fairfield, Iowa. 

What was your first job?  
 
Bagging groceries and becoming an expert at mopping the aisles at Boogaart's Grocery Store.

Favorite books?  
 
The Bible, Charles Dickens, A.C. Doyle's works

Hobbies?  
 
Gardening, restoring Studebakers, cooking, eating!

One place you would like to travel right now?  
 
Vienna – I've never been and my friends Maria and Otto live there.

What was your first car? 
 
'62 Rambler Classic.  Burned a quart of oil a week!

What was the first concert you attended? 
 
Ready for this?  Liberace!  As a young DJ, my first station played his music and I was impressed with his talent and flamboyance.  He didn't let me down!

First celebrity crush?  
 
Haley Mills...I still have that crush!

Favorite food?  
 
Hmmm, don't laugh; meatloaf!  Especially meatloaf sandwiches at the Black Diamond Bakery.  Heaven on earth!

Name one tune that's in "Recently played" on your iPod  
 
John Williams Soundtracks...no wait, Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Last book read?  
 
"90 Minutes in Heaven" by Don Piper  (GREAT book, btw)

Last movie seen?  
 
"Fireproof"   Every couple should see it!

What makes you laugh?  
 
When unintended funny things happen.

Cats or dogs?  
 
Wiley the cat became a family member when neighbors moved to Port Angeles and asked if we wanted him.  He comes and goes on his schedule.  Unfortunately, Jannelle has an allergy to cat fur so Wiley's an outdoor puddy-tat.

Latest accomplishment? 
 
Taking a long walk along the Long Beach Peninsula.  Jannelle and I will often pick out a city or town and then spend the day exploring it.  Often, we'll find a local museum or historic spot and check it out.  We also like to lunch at a local 'mom & pop' restaurant.  We've been to Stanwood, Puyallup, Port Orchard, Ocean Shores, Westport, Walla Walla, Sumner, Tacoma, Wenatchee, Port Townsend.  It's fun!

Why I do what I do?  
 
Wamu wants a mortgage payment!  Seriously, when I was 14 and clueless about what I wanted to do, my dad took me to the local radio station to visit a friend of his and from the moment I walked in the door and saw Frank Nagle spinning vinyl records on turntables I was hooked.  Never looked back and I love every minute.

What are your favorite artists of all-time? 
 
Well, if you mean recording artists, I suppose Eric Clapton is right up there with B.B. King, Albert Collins, Gordon Lightfoot, Focus, Jan Akkerman, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Larnell Harris, the classics (Bach, Beethoven, etc.), John Williams, Bernard Hermann's great movie soundtracks, Dmitri Tiomkin and tons more.

Where did you get started in radio?  Your first radio job? 
 
WSBR in Boca Raton, FL, sweeping the floors, emptying the garbage cans and catching the mice!  At the time, the station was in the 'toolies' and the air conditioner was unreliable at best.  We'd leave doors and windows open and the field mice knew it was a smorgasbord of potato chips and junk food.  I'd hear traps snapping while I was reading the news and I'd pump my fist in the air!

Favorite thing to do when you aren't playing music at Warm 106.9?  
 
Doing some volunteer service where I live...typical homeowner things...working on the old cars.  I'm really blessed to have the time, resources and ability to do the things I love.

What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you while you were on the air?  
 
I once 'overdosed' on a big box of raisins while doing a morning show in Hartford, CT and the ensuing, uh, explosion left me and my partner, Arnold Dean, on the floor in laughter.  You kinda had to be there.  Boy, did WE get in trouble!  Arnold remains a dear friend and we had too much fun together in a few short years.

What was your favorite celebrity interview experience?  
 
Having Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins in studio for an hour!  I was a basket case.  He's a real American hero.  Funny thing, a local cable TV company came to the studio to videotape the interview and they gave me a tape of it.  I have never watched that tape.

Describe a family tradition that you have.  
 
Relearning – over and over again – the importance of unconditional love for myself, my kids and my bride. 

If you'd like further info from our morning feature 'The Family Minute', here's their web address - myfamilyminute.com

Send Tom an email!!