The First 25 Years
1971 - 1996
Stories told by friends and family about the first 25 years of Thomas' life.
Cousin MeeCee
My Mother (Aunt Doosey to Toddler Thomas and Dorothy when he grew) loved Thomas as do I. Thomas always was a very affectionate little guy and my Mom especially loved to visit the Wickersham’s where Thomas would sit in her lap for hours. He would entertain her with stories and constantly had a stuffed Sesame Street character in tow. Later on, I remember taking my Mom to see Thomas play 7th grade basketball. Mom was a high school BB coach and PE major herself back in the day. I coached BB as well. Thomas was a head taller then the other kids and snagged nearly every rebound. The little guys just bounced off him. We got such a kick out of Thomas playing BB. As I recall he was top scorer that game. Perhaps not graceful, but he was a force on the 7th grade hardwoods.
Coach Houp
Tom was an outstanding baseball player and leader on a very special team. In 1990 the DHS Whippets won 18 games and gave up 6. They won the 10th Annual Phoenixville Rotary Club Tournament. Next they went on to win the Ches-Mont Championship and were runner-up in the District 1 Tournament. The Whippets were the first DHS baseball team to go to the State Championships in Williamsport. Unfortunately, we lost 7-2.One night I went to watch a Legion baseball game. I was sitting on a bench at Campbell Drive. Tom came up to bat and hit a home run! The ball flew over the left field fence. I threw my hands in the air, making a V for victory and called out, "FINALLY!" Tom always had the size and power to be a big slugger. It was wonderful to watch his face as he rounded third.Tom's father was also an asset to our baseball team. When storms came and certain areas of the infield flooded I could count on Mr. Wickersham to bring his equipment down and begin pumping water off of the infield so that we were able to play scheduled games. I never needed to ask. He just knew and showed up. A lot of other teams had to reschedule but the Whippets never did.Tom, I wish you the best on your 50th birthday. Remember: As Yogi said, "The older you get the better you were."Coach HoupYou have created a wonderful family of your own. We wish you many more years of health and happiness.
Mrs. Houp
Thomas was one of my students at New East Ward. He will always be "Thomas" to me. Thomas is one of those students you remember forever. He was full of personality, excelled academically, was a class leader, funny but knew when to be serious, generous to other students with his time and encouragement. One story we always talk about, when I'm lucky enough to see him, is the time he sat on my lap at a DHS basketball game! He's the only student I ever had who had that "honor". I don't remember the "why" but he asked! I always tell him that although it would be a different experience today the offer still stands. Thomas came from wonderful parents. I'm sure his mom was asked to be homeroom mother every year of his elementary years. He carries a lot of her with him today.
I have no idea how Thomas can be turning 50 since I'm holding at 65! I must have been 15 or 16 when I taught him! I had the pleasure of watching him continue to lead and grow academically and physically through his high school career. It was Dickensian, the best of times and the worst of times.
Happy birthday to a special student, player, and friend.
Mrs. Houp
Joe Iezzi
Probably only knew Thomas about 2-3 weeks, . The beginning of the 1988 Football season. John Barr and I just took our jobs together at Downingtown High School. After a tough FB camp, we are preparing for our 1st home game under the old stone bleachers we called a lockeroom at the old Stadium. Coach Barr is getting ready for one of his infamous pre game talks. But Thomas raises his hand and says , "Coach can I go to the bathroom 1st". Coach says hurry up, go. John and I look at each other as we hear a tinkling a few feet away and see Thomas peeing in a hole in the concrete floor. Coach Barr yells ,what the H are you doing. Thomas very calming says Coach this our bathroom. we always go there. John turns to me and say " Sleepnig Giant My A--" . That was the Quote ,Principal Levi Wingard used to hire John. Saying Football here at D ou wningtown was a Football Sleeping Giant after a few bad losing seasons. One of My 1st of many crazy encounters with Wick !!
Franklin
My Sophomore year of football at Dtown (1986) and I was a skinny kid walking into camp with a team that had been undefeated the year before. I was no football superstar. I’m fact I was more worried about making it through camp as someone who had been diagnosed with T1D at the night after my last game in 9th grade for Lionville.
I remember this big blonde kid who was in 9th grade that was playing with the high school team, which seemed odd. He was also a lineman and I was with the wide outs and d-backs that year.
Slowly over the next few years I got to know who this big blonde mullet haired kid was…he was actually pretty damn good. Cant say the same about myself. All in all he was as good a guy as you’d get to know.
I can say Wick and I weren’t the closest of buddies in high school, but we always got along. We could always joke around and laugh we each other.
As the years went on, our lives drifted apart. Fortunately, I reconnected with him on Facebook about 11 plus years ago. I saw he was coaching now at Dtown and put as much heart and soul into coaching as he did playing (probably more).
Even more of a standout was that he had 2 boys who were also Diabetics. We have been in touch over the years as I cheer on his boys with T1D (and all of his kids and family). His wife Kate seems to be an incredible women (way out of his league) and a huge advocate for T1D…as is Tom.
I’m proud and thankful to know this former mullet haired kid since the mid 80’s who has grown into a true stand up guy (minus the mullet and all hair for that matter), and a pillar of the Downingtown Community!
Happy 50th Brother! Welcome to the Club!!!
Cousin Dave
I enjoyed watching Thomas grow up. His mom, my cousin, was one of my best friends. I will say that she indulged him a bit, or maybe a lot. He was and is good-natured and all about sports. I really enjoyed watching him play football when I was in town, mostly because his mom was his biggest fan. If you think the players and coaches were intense, you should have the chance to sit with his mom at a game. She gave new meaning to the word intense!
As football became his focus, Thomas concentrated on bulking up. He worked really hard in the weight room and the dining hall. After he hung up his pads and cleats, he continued to kill it at the dining hall and has become a magnificent specimen as a line coach who lives what he preaches. I'm proud to think that he followed in my footsteps and "got big!"
Now that Thomas's playing days are over and he has succeeded at bulking up, he has turned to trash-talking. He was a good lineman at Downingtown and at Fordham. He is a good football coach. But he is an All-American trash talker. Nothing is off limits.
So after 50 years, my hat is off to Thomas, a mountain of a man. A great son, brother, husband, and father. He is everything his mom would want him to be. And Thomas, know that I can get you Ohio State jerseys in any size, so keep on living large! I love you
Nancy E
Although I was away at college of the time, Thomas stepped in and took my brother out for Halloween. My brother, Marty, was both mentally and physically handicapped yet he was a social butterfly. He loved walking around the neighborhood with his big friend Thomas. All of the neighbors were grateful for Marty to come around and my parents were grateful to Thomas for taking him. Happy Birthday Big Guy!
Ricky
Tom and I have been friends since even school. We haven't had many stories to tell, but we shared different times together. Most of our memories come from our Red Sox Babe Ruth baseball team, and the two years we played football together. We always had some good laughs throughout our school years. We don't have any pictures to share but when you mention my name, you will see a smile come to his face. The song for his soundtrack is Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N Roses. One day I started singing that song at one if our baseball games, and he was very shocked that I knew the song and started laughing hysterically.
Floody / Ox
It was the year 1989/90 our Senior High basketball season. Each and every away game Thomas or I would make sure one of us would be first to enter on the bus and to make sure him and I sat on the seat that had the busses heater directly below us. As soon as the bus would depart I would yell up to the driver "could you please turn up the heat". After about 10 minutes of both of us sweating our asses off I would yell back up to the driver "could you please turn down the heat". It is still something we laugh about today. I can still hear Coach Walker yelling "Floody" move away from the heater!
JEFF MILLER
When I look back at my friendship with Thomas, music is always a common theme with any story. I can close my eyes and remember like it was yesterday the times we spent playing video games at Thomas’s house and listening to music. Some of the more memorable moments are these:
Listening to Horace the Taurus Pintaurus the Third on Power 99 FM. Baby Bubbas! May he always Rest In Peace!
Listening to The Bee Gees sing “Nights on Broadway” while we played Nintendo Baseball. F the Yankees!
Listening to the song “The Rain” by Oran Juice Jones! “I missed you so much I followed you today, now sit on down cause your cold busted! My first impulse was to run up on you and do a Rambo! What were you trying to prove, you’re messing with the juice! You’re dismissed, that’s right silly rabbit, Trix are made for kids! You without me is like corn flakes without the milk! It’s my world, you’re just a squirrel trying to get a nut!” Classic!
And last but not least, listening to “Into the Night” by Benny Mardones. I will never forget you singing every lyric at the top of your lungs! Makes me laugh every time I think about it!
GINA
I have known Thomas since before kindergarten. Our friendship is by far the longest I have ever had and I will always and forever call him Thomas. I have so many stories but a few stand out and will always hold a place in my heart. Thomas and his big bird costume, driving to school in the blue camaro where 95 % of the time the passenger set was wet because he left the sunroof open the night before, risking our lives pulling out into rt 322 every morning to get to school, listening to “the best song ever” at volume 90 at 7 am and rewinding “the best song ever” to make sure we heard the words and understood all the meaning the song had. Watching the premiere of endless music videos on MTV after school, summers by the pool, Halloween, Max and Boo, OCMD, sausage stuffing, life lessons, lessons of the heart, but mostly Thomas being the best big brother to me. Love you Thomas, happy 50th!! Gina
MARTHA
December 17th 1971. Was an exciting day. Our mommy was bringing home our new baby brother Thomas from the hospital. I was 5yrs old my sister Beth was 3. We couldn’t wait for this day! In walks mommy and daddy with this adorable rosy cheeked baby. We were jumping up and down, we were so happy! Mommy said as she undressed him from his snow suit “I think he needs a diaper change”! We ran over to the changing table to watch. As we peered over the edge to watch….mommy took his diaper off. As soon as the air hit him, a steady stream of pee shot up and hit the wall on the other side of the table nearly missing our little faces. Mommy yelled “oh no”! We giggled for hours over it. That is my first memory of my baby brother Thomas. That’s also the first time I realized why boys are different than girls! The end.
STEELE, PEEWEE OR DELINQUENT
Wick and I grew up playing sports against each other knowing in high school we would be teammates. Football Basketball and some Baseball. Lionville vs Dtown. We knew of each other and probably disliked each other for the most part, until we were Whippets together. I could tell many stories but the one I'm sharing with you is because of who Wick is and his character. Our senior year 89-90 was our year in Football..state playoff talent and we were not going to waste it. We have dedicated our youth to sports and have earned many "captain" roles on our perspective teams, but being a captain Sr year for the Whippets was important to us. I figured I'd be one along with Petey, Wick, and Timmy but we had a coach who didn't really want to see me succeed because we've had some issues prior and this is how he wanted to punish me. Regardless, Wick knew the deal and took it up with Coach Barr and I became the 4th Captain (after I promised not to be a delinquent until after the season) Thomas could have looked the other way, been selfish, black-hearted but chose to because he can see through whats right regardless of the situation or personalities. The Whippet program is of great success because of people like Thomas Wickersham and the community as well. We need more Toms and less Karens! Proud to call you brother, my friend. Welcome to the club sir. Happy 50th
MALINDA
My version (the truth) of Tom's story that I would always threaten to beat him up is: I was this shy innocent girl in the band. What made it worse and more noticeable was the fact that I was now playing Tuba instead of flute. So here I am marching around on the field with this big brass Okie Dok monstrosity wrapped around me trying not to be noticed anymore. First game as we are marching off the field, the football players are on the sidelines ready to rush out when he spots me with the tuba on. I'm hoping that with my hat pulled down I'm not noticed. Side note: In the band you are to look forward, no smiling, serious look. I hear and spot out of the side of my eye Tom aka Wick grinning and says, "Yo Malinda is that you?" Of course, the rest of the get fresh crew gang turn and noticed me. Now they know I can't smile, look around, etc, or even acknowledge they are there let alone talk. So they are all calling my name, Saying you know you hear us, you wanna smile. I start smiling trying not to laugh but it's too late. Over comes my band director and who is in trouble? Me. The next day I see Tom at the snack area with the guys an they are checkin up, and he notices I'm coming straight for the ring leader, an he says no Malinda don't beat me up. I said I should. You know I can't smile or laugh and got in trouble. Then they laugh and say oh we're sorry. I said no your not, rolled my eyes I think I even punched him (lightly) in his arm as I went by. Of course, he says ouch an hold his arm like I broke it. Yet they still did this to me almost every time.
Yeahhh I exaggerated a tiny bit but nothing compared to the versions of stories he has told😉
MICHELE BIAGIOTTI LARGE
I grew up two houses down from The Wickershams, and while my house was filled with girls, I always felt like I had a big brother because of Thomas. This was both good and bad. While I knew no one was going to pick on me if Thomas had anything to say about it, Thomas also made sure I knew I was the youngest in our “gang” at all times. Back in the eighties, we had no problem filling our days playing outside. One of our most favorite things to play was “Star Wars”. My role in the game, however, was never up for discussion. No matter who was able to play, I had to be R2D2. Even if Gina (the only other girl) could not play, I was STILL not allowed to be Princess Leia. Nope…Thomas said if I wanted to play, R2D2 was my only option. No talking, only beeping. Well, I beeped and wobbled my heart out, and the best droid ever had the best summers ever on Manorwood Drive. Thank you for so many childhood memories Thomas! Happy 50th to my Manorwood Big Brother…love you!! -Michele
ANDREA GENTRY
My story is not novel-worthy but one surrounding a big day in your life.
Your Mom, Sharon, is my first cousin and she asked me to cater your high school graduation pool party. I arrived with large containers of chicken salad, fruit salad, potato salad, deviled eggs and a huge pot of my meatballs and sauce. Your Dad put them on the stove and I asked him to put the burner on low. My friend Eileen and I got everything ready and I checked on the meatballs under which was a burner on high. The whole pot was scorched. Over 250 meatballs burnt.
But a second memory is of a young man out of college who gave so freely and with great love in his heart to care for his Mom. It is said that there is no bond of love greater than that of a Mother and Child. You reinforced that bond as you cared for Sharon through her illness. My Mom and Dad loved you and your sisters so very much and were very proud of you. That love grew into great respect.
Thomas, as you celebrate the big 5 0, know you have the love of the Gentry’s with you! You come from great stock! Happy Birthday!
DEE
I am sure Thomas can show many sides of his great personality, but my story only reflects Thomas as a fantastic son. The bond between him and his mother was “perfect”. His loving and kind heart showed through. He gave up his job, his school, his free time to be the caregiver for his beloved mom. The love and support and care he gave Sharon was amazing. I know she was so very proud of him and how he took such loving care of her to the end was so special. I will let others tell the “silly” and “fun” stories because when I think of Thomas I think of this wonderful young man who put his mother and her care above all else.
MRS.YOUNG
The story I am sending is of Tommy as a former student and as a friend. Happy 50th Tommy! Yes, you will always be Tommy to me! How well I remember that sweet, blonde first grader with the big smile from years gone by at East Ward School. What I remember most about you is your kindness. You were always so very friendly and accepting of your classmates, both in and out of the classroom. When it was recess time you were always the first in line, asking to take out any and all of the playground balls that were available. You always shared with the other children and included them in your games. Our principal, Ernie Faulkner, enjoyed watching and even joining in on occasion!
Upon meeting your mother at conferences I immediately knew why you were such a kind and loving child. Your mom was such a wonderful lady! She was very understanding of you and so very proud! Your Mom and Dad raised a sweet boy into a fine man. I feel fortunate that you remembered me and have cared to reconnect with me after so many years! And how lucky I am to get that big bear hug when I get to see you! It certainly is my pleasure to stay in touch.
Happy 50th birthday Tommy! Wishing you many happy, healthy years ahead filled with the love of family and friends!
DUMBASS
In the summer of 1989 I worked for Wickersham masonry with Ralph. Everyone told me that all I would hear about is “how great Thomas is”. Sure enough first day Ralph says Thomas has the best footwork of anybody in the state for his size. It went on all summer like I was promised with Thomas becoming Bo Jackson before my eyes and I really didn’t even know him.
Fast forward to the spring of 2009 when I bumped into Thomas whom I prob had not seen in 25 years. Our boys were on the same baseball team and at the first game Thomas walks up to me and says “wait till you see my son Evan play, one of the most gifted athletes I have seen”. It has continued to this day😂😂😂. I felt like I was in a back to the future episode.
The thing that I have learned is although both Wickersham’s are tough on the exterior, they Love their families without bias and sports is the conduit to that love. Thomas will find the good in all kids, not just his own.
Happy 50th - You big Lug!