Thomas H. Craft Academic Scholarship recognizing Diligence
Established by the family and friends of Thomas Craft – University of Iowa, Class of 1965.
Thomas “Tommy” Craft grew up in Waterloo, Iowa where he attended West Waterloo High School. He lettered in three Varsity sports and excelled academically. After a brief stint at Southern Methodist University (SMU), in Dallas, Tom returned to the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. While there, he was recruited by a member of the Iowa Gamma chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon (the fraternity his father had pledged but was never initiated into). Tom became a dedicated and valued member of the fraternity, serving multiple terms as both recruiting chairman and pledge trainer. He was also an outstanding intramural athlete, a successful student, a representative of student government, an active member of the community and maintained full-time employment (working at a radio station) until his graduation in the Spring of 1965.
The time Tommy spent as an active member of Sigma Phi Epsilon ignited a life-long love for the fraternity and a real appreciation for the Cardinal Principles that guide it …particularly “Diligence.” His career, in aviation and hospitality, took him around the world and he enjoyed his “work”, achieving some degree of notoriety in his field. “Tommy” (who in later years became, simply, “Tom”) ended his career as the President/CEO of his own Public Relations firm. Retirement offered him the opportunity to travel and he regularly visited/supported the Iowa Gamma chapter at his alma mater and other chapters across the nation, including those throughout Florida, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, California, Georgia, Arizona and Texas. In fact, Tom served as a member of the Alumni Board and Chapter Counselor at Texas Beta (here at the University of North Texas) alongside his good friend and ‘brother,’ Jack Wheeler (who is also honored here today).
Tom tirelessly worked to raise money for several major charitable organizations, including the Ryan Dant Foundation, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, Happy Hill Farm Academy & Home and other important causes. He was respected, appreciated and admired by everyone he met and knew… His golden heart stopped beating on August 6, 2002 but his memory remains alive in the hearts of those he genuinely touched… the people he was always “there for”… his family, his friends and his ‘brothers,’ too.
This scholarship will be awarded to one incoming Freshman and one “active” brother of the Texas Beta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon who displays qualities similar to those Tom espoused during a life well lived.
Donate
To donate to the Texas Beta Thomas H. Craft Scholarship please follow the instructions below:
- Visit the Texas Beta Thomas H. Craft Scholarship page (NOTE: it may be necessary to register and login to the SigEp web site prior to donating)
- Important! Select the appropriate program from the “Chapter Scholarship Gift” list – In this case select “Texas Beta Thomas H. Craft Scholarship”.
- Select One-time investment and insert the amount to be donated
- Complete the Chapter Scholarship Gift information
- Complete the Payment and Billing information
- Click the Next button
