Tom, 82, of Madison Heights, Virginia, died Aug. 2, 2009, in Lynchburg, Va., due to complications from Alzheimer's disease and other health problems. He was born October 4,1926, in New Orleans and graduated from Metairie H.S. Tom earned a bachelor's degree in Botany from Louisiana State University and served in the U.S. Navy. Tom became a smokejumper as a college student in 1949, working just his rookie season.

After graduating from LSU, Tom became a forester, working for major paper-producing companies in Louisiana, Alabama and North Carolina retiring in 1991.