I think Tom was the first FT'er I ever met in person - many years ago in SYD. (We both still drive the exact same cars!) We've caught up a dozen or more times since - here, in SFO, and elsewhere. One of the true gentlemen on FT.

We once had a spare day in SFO, so he kindly offered to drive us to Reno and Lake Tahoe and back. And another visit drove seemingly half way across CA to find a cinema screening a foreign movie we were keen to see. ^

I am sure 'retirement' will simply mean even more mileage runs and more bump vouchers. He could write a book on both.

And I am sure Tom would appreciate folks reading this to take the moment to cast a vote(s!) for his good family friend Natalie Coughlin, for US Female Athlete Of The Year:

http://espn.go.com/espy2005/s/05fema...enominees.html