Tom Foust, Class of 1953
Journalist and Volunteer

Born in Indianapolis but migrated to the Southwest at the age of five – family settled in Tucson at the end of World War II – was a good student while at THS – was sports editor of the Cactus Chronicle – was in large part responsible for it being named as one of the best high school newspapers in the nation – was Junior Class President – active in Senior Cabinet, Boys Social Hour, and was member of state championship baseball teams as a sophomore and a junior – worked as a correspondent for the Arizona Daily Star – was offered a full-time job after graduation – worked for The Star for three years- spent a year as sports editor of the Yuma Daily Sun – returned to The Star in 1957 as assistant sports editor – helped supervise the department and covered all aspects of local sports scene – he served as The Star’s sports editor from 1971 to 1979 – colleagues remembered him as consummate professional, maintaining the highest standards of ethics and journalistic excellence, handling every topic he was assigned with unbounded energy – mentored hundreds of young journalists – work was honored by the American Association of College Baseball Coaches in 1959 and 1960 – his Arizona Press Club awards include a first place for news photography in 1963 and first place for sports reporting in 1973 – was named Conservation Communicator of the Year by the Arizona Wildlife Federation in 1981 and Outdoor Write of the year by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission in 1991 – in 1991 and 1993, was honored by the American Bowling Congress – his coverage of professional rodeo garnered him an honor by the Tucson Rodeo Committee in 1997 – was inducted into the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Wildlife for Tomorrow Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame in 2002 – volunteered as president of The Arizona Daily Star Sportsmen’s Fund which had been formed in 1947, to raise money to provide summer camping experiences for thousands of youngsters from Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico (it has raised over $3 million) continues as a senior member to this day – was active as volunteer for the Basketball Congress, Inc. boys and girls Southern Arizona Summer tournament which grew over the years to encompass 32 boys and 16 girls high school basketball teams, with all-star teams from each advancing to the national tournament in Phoenix – although retired from The Star in 1996, continued to work as an on call reporter until 2002 – currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Tucson High Badger Foundation – is always one of the first to sign up to represent the Badger Foundation at Tucson High events and class reunions