Tom Skinner, PebbleCreek Pickleball Club Volunteer of the Month
Cynthia Schwartz
Tom Skinner is the PebbleCreek Pickleball Club Volunteer/Player of the month. Tom spent most of his life in the Boulder, Colo. area. He went to elementary, junior high, and high school in Boulder, attended the University of Colorado, worked at a local engineering firm, and raised two sons with his wife, Jean, in the area. Tom didn’t play sports in high school or college. Later, he was always busy with work and family life, and he didn’t have time for organized sports. He was a structural engineer for 36 years, designing buildings all over the United States that included national park and residential projects, fire stations, schools, resorts and ski lodges, and hotels.
Tom had a few favorite projects. One was a winery in Napa Valley. Tom said, “The project included the area where they press the grapes and make the wine, an underground barrel storage area, customer areas, and numerous out-buildings. I really enjoyed working with the owners. They wanted to build a winery that was similar to another winery that they owned; they were focused, knew what they wanted, and money wasn’t an object.” Although Tom is officially retired, he consults but only picks projects that he thinks are fun. “I’m working on a project to re-work the elevators at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The elevators run 750 feet between the caves and the visitor center. I spend a lot of time in elevator shafts!” While working, Tom did find the time to volunteer at a homeless shelter and church as a short order cook. Tom cooked breakfast and dinner for hundreds of hungry and needy people.
Tom and Jean frequently vacationed at a friend’s home who lived in Phoenix. When they visited Arizona, they attended a pickleball tournament in Festival. When Tom saw pickleball, he said, “I’m gonna love that game!” When Tom and Jean decided to move to Arizona, Tom said, “I’m gonna play!” Tom and Jean joined the PebbleCreek Pickleball Club, and he played and played a lot. He said, “I couldn’t get enough and I was improving. I have so much fun being a member of the club. I’ve met so many people and made friends.” During tournaments, Tom has hung vendor banners, helped dry the courts when it rained, and was always around to help.
Tom overheard that the club needed a captain for men’s Ladder. He decided that it was time to step up. He said, “I get so much out of this club and I wanted to give back.” Tom is responsible for organizing the event for 180 men. Ladder runs once a week from October to April. He needs to group players, publish a schedule and score sheets, find substitutes when there are cancellations, and make sure that each week runs smoothly. Tom said, “Being Ladder Captain has given me the opportunity to meet a lot of players that I don’t get a chance to meet on the court.” Thank you, Tom, for volunteering, and thank you for being the men’s ladder captain.