Thomas Lavell Secrest was born in Corpus Christi, TX, the son of James and Sarah Hill Secrest. Tom’s father was a World War II Marine fighter pilot in the Pacific. Tom had two older brothers, John and Randy. John served in the Marines, and Randy was a Navy pilot. The family lived in Robstown, TX, where his father ran Hill Hardware and Implement, the family business. The family also owned a cotton farm, and Tom’s dad flew the crop duster plane to treat the cotton. In an event that shaped much of Tom’s future, the family installed their first color TV set in the house in 1956 in time for Game 5 of the World Series. Tom stayed home from school that day to see the New York Yankees defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers when Don Larsen pitched the only solo perfect game in World Series history. It began Tom’s lifetime love of baseball and the Yankees. In 1966, Tom graduated from Robstown High School, where he was a varsity athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. He was student council president and participated in Boys State and the attorney general’s youth conference, which began his love for the law. Tom belonged to the Boy Scouts, with which he achieved Eagle Scout and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow. Although his family heritage was in the Navy, Tom chose the Army and applied to West Point. He earned his appointment to West Point from Congressman James Young, 16th District of Texas and joined the USMA Class of 1970 on July 1, 1966.

As a cadet Tom was fascinated with Latin America and learned as much as possible about the languages and cultures of South and Central America. He was an effective organizer and dedicated long hours to the production of the Class of 1970 Howitzer yearbook. His companymate Gil Tam had a beautiful voice, and Tom often recalled how much he loved to listen to Gil sing, especially “How Great Thou Art.” Of course, Tom made several trips to New York City, especially in the spring and summer to watch the Yankees play baseball. Upon graduation Tom was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Armor branch. Due to a serious leg injury at West Point shortly before graduation, Tom was disqualified from attending airborne or Ranger training. Immediately after the Armor Officer Basic Course he reported to the 2-37th Armor Regiment in FÜrth, Germany. During the next three years he was a platoon leader, executive officer, and company commander with 2-37 Armor. In November 1973 he returned to the U.S. as an instructor at the Fort Knox, KY Armor Officer Basic Course until he left the Army in July 1975. Remembering how much he enjoyed studying law at the Texas AG’s conference and at West Point, Tom took advantage of the GI Bill to earn his law degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1978. 

Despite spending three years back in “God’s Country” (Texas), the allure of practicing patent law in New York City (and access to Sunday tickets to Yankees games) drew him to the firm of Fish & Neave. On a fortuitous trip to San Francisco in 1979 for a two-week trial that stretched on for over three months, Tom met his wife, Lizzy, while doing research in the law library where she was a paralegal. Tom and Elizabeth “Lizzy” Weug Secrest were married in San Francisco in 1981. Initially Tom and Lizzy lived in Brooklyn, and she worked in the legal department at Gulf and Western Industries. Tom became a partner at Fish & Neave in 1988, and the couple moved to Westchester County, New York. 

Tom was a regular member of the Class of 1970 golf tour and hosted the tour at Sleepy Hollow Country Club. Tom continued to practice law in New York City until he had a mini stroke in 2004. He decided to retire at age 55 and move to Pawleys Island, SC. Living in Pawleys Island gave Tom plenty of time to improve his golf game, playing at least five days a week with a foursome of his best friends. Tom’s golf partner, David Scott, recalls that Tom believed in “hit and run” golf. They often played 18 holes in under two hours. Playing fast didn’t hinder his golf game, as he had a low handicap and several “hole-in-ones” to his credit. He also hosted the Class of 1970 golf tour again in 2017 at Pawleys Island. Tom also loved to read history and biographies and maintained an extensive library in his home office. Although the occasional hurricane evacuation disrupted his golf outings, Tom and Lizzy used the opportunity to take refuge in Tennessee with his son, Lavell Secrest; Lavell’s wife, Jennifer; and grandchildren Sarah and Johnathan.

Tom passed away on January 27, 2020. There was a memorial service for Tom in Pawleys Island at which his roommate, Ed Hirsch, delivered a wonderful tribute. However, the burial service at West Point was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. He was interred in the West Point Cemetery and a full military service was conducted later with family, classmates, neighbors, and legal associates in attendance. Tom Secrest lived a good life. His love of golf, scotch, and the Yankees was exceeded only by his love for his wife, Lizzy, and their family.

— His classmates, family, and friends