TRIBUTE TO THOMAS OMEGA MILLARD, SR
A DVD was prepared and copies given to all classmates attending the reunion. The DVD was a tribute to Thomas Omega Millard, SR, for all of his leadership for the NHHS class of 1954 reunions. In addition the DVD contained approximately 700 photos taken of many of the reunion events.
Dual packet DVD cases were prepared for each of Tommy's three children, Thomas Omega Millard, JR (Sonny), Dianna Millard and Lee Millard. One DVD was just the tribute to their Dad, the other was like the one provided to class members, including the photos described above. A similar packet was provided to Ann Millard, Tommy's widow at the class reunion. The packets had photographs on the cover like the one below.
The inside of the packets are pictured below:
The "Tribute" can now be viewed online via the link at the bottom of this page. However, for those of you who missed the reunion, I would like to expand on the tribute we made to Tommy that night. After we played the DVD, we sang Tommy's favorite song, The Wabash Cannon Ball. We included the verse his brothers added at his funeral, which they sang for him. That third verse was included. The complete song, as sang, is listed below:
TOMMY’S WABASH CANNON BALL
FROM THE GREAT ATLANTIC OCEAN TO THE WIDE PACIFIC SHORE.
SHE CLIMBS A FLOWERY MOUNTAIN; OVER HILLS AND BY THE SHORE.
SHE’S MIGHTY TALL AND HANDSOME, SHE’S KNOWN QUITE WELL BY ALL.
SHE’S A REGULAR COMBINATION OF THE WABASH CANNON BALL.
WELL SHE CAME DOWN FROM BIRMINGHAM ONE COLD DECEMBER DAY.
AS SHE PULLED INTO THE STATION, YOU COULD HEAR THE PEOPLE SAY.
SHE COMES FROM TENNESSEE, SHE’S LONG AND SHE’S TALL.
SHE CAME DOWN FROM BURMINGHAM ON THE WABASH CANNON BALL.
HERE’S TO THOMAS OMEGA MAY HIS NAME FOREVER STAND!
AND ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED IN THE COURTS THROUGHOUT THE LAND.
HIS EARTHLY RACE IS OVER, AND THE CURTAINS ROUND HIM FALL.
WE’LL CARRY HIM HOME TO DIXIE ON THE WABASH CANNON BALL.
LISTEN TO THE GINGLE, THE RUMBLE AND THE ROAR.
AS SHE GLIDES ALONG THE WOODLAND OVER HILLS AND BY THE SHORS.
HEAR THE MIGHTY RUSH OF ENGINES; HEAR THOSE LONESOME HOBO’S CALL.
TRAVELING THROUGH THE JUNGLE ON THE WABASH CANNON BALL.
HERE’S TO THOMAS OMEGA MAY HIS NAME FOREVER STAND!
AND ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED IN THE COURTS THROUGHOUT THE LAND.
HIS EARTHLY RACE IS OVER, AND THE CURTAINS ROUND HIM FALL.
WE’LL CARRY HIM HOME TO DIXIE ON THE WABASH CANNON BALL.
Now click on the following to see and hear: