August 13, 2008

SAN DIMAS, CA - Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas, CA) announced today the passing of his step-father, Thomas Alton Hagood.  He passed away on August 9, 2008, surrounded by his family.

Tom was born in Fort Worth, Texas on March 10, 1926.  He moved to Orlando, Florida as a young boy.  Following graduation from high school, he joined the U.S. Navy and served during World War II.  When he returned home, he attended Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida on the G.I. Bill.  After graduation, he and his brother founded the Hagood Brothers Boat Company in Orlando.  He later served as a Mayor of Edgewood, Florida.  He had a lifelong love of racing on land and water, wining numerous national boat-racing championships and becoming one of the first to break NASCAR’s 100 mile per hour mark at Daytona Beach when racing still took place on the sand.

Following the death of his wife of nearly forty years, Nancy Shepherd, Tom was reunited with his Rollins College Class of 1950 classmate and college sweetheart, Joyce Yeomans Dreier.  They were married on Valentine’s Day 2000.  Since then, they divided their time between Kansas City, Missouri and Rancho Mirage, California.

Tom is survived by his loving wife Joyce; his sister Saundra Gray; his children Susan McLean, Thomas Jr., Elisabeth and Michael; his step-children David Dreier, Denise Despars and Dana Lamont; and his 12 grandchildren.

Congressman Dreier will deliver a eulogy at a memorial service in Winter Park, Florida on Thursday, August 14 at 3 p.m. at the Knowles Chapel at Rollins College.