Tom Madison

Thomas Mack Madison was born April 2, 1929 in Dallas, Texas to Dee C. and Ophelia Madison. He attended Anderson High School and Samuel Huston College, now Huston-Tillotson University. He went on to earn a Master of Science degree in chemistry from Tuskegee Institute and a Master of Business Administration degree from Arizona State University. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force through the Air Force ROTC program on November 25, 1952, and went on active duty on January 1, 1953. He earned his pilot's wings in 1954, and served in various piloting capacities until 1967. He initially flew cargo planes and then advanced to tactical jet fighter aircraft. He flew the F-105F "Wild Weasel" with the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from February 1967 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on April 19, 1967. After spending 2,147 days in captivity, he was released during Operation Homecoming on March 4, 1973. As a result of his heroism, he was awarded two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, a Distinguished Flying Cross, and a Prisoner of War Medal. He served ten additional years in the Air Force following his return from Vietnam. As Director of Accounting and Finance, he handled financial operations for U.S. Air Force Europe while stationed in Germany, and then U.S. Air Force Pacific in Hawaii. Upon retiring from the military on November 1, 1983 as a Colonel, he began a new career as a Merrill Lynch financial consultant in Austin and continued until his retirement in 1998. Colonel Madison died on June 30, 2017 in Austin, Texas. He was buried in the cemetery of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Mount Salem in Austin. He was survived by a son Stephen A. Madison and several grandchildren.