As part of Allen ISD’s centennial, The Flipside has been looking back at our school namesakes. This week we look back on a lifelong resident who helped guide Allen through its transition from rural to suburban community. (Photo: Mac Curtis, Beamon Morrow and Tom Ereckson-1948)
Thomas Hugh Ereckson was born in 1929 and grew up in southwest Allen hunting and fishing along Rowlett Creek. He attended the Allen schools where he lettered in four different sports before graduating from Allen High School in 1947. Among his classmates was Margie (Boyd) Marion of Marion Elementary School fame.
Upon graduation he earned a degree from Draughon’s Business College in Dallas before entering the U.S. Army in 1951. It was that same year that Tom married Mary Lou Ledbetter of McKinney.
Before and after his military service, Ereckson worked for Western Electric (later AT&T). Upon his retirement he worked for Ericsson Telecommunications and DSC Communications.
The Ereckson family name is a familiar one in Allen history. His great grandfather Thomas Jefferson Ereckson settled in Allen around 1890. His father Gene Ereckson was involved in numerous community activities and served as a member of the first volunteer Allen Fire Department in 1953 with his brother Clifford. Ethel Ereckson Roddy was school secretary for school superintendent Pete Moseley, Alma Phelps Ereckson was the church pianist for First Baptist Church for nearly 50 years and Edwin Lee Ereckson was the first constable in Allen.
Tom was best known for his service on the Allen ISD Board of Trustees. He was first appointed to the board in 1963 and was ultimately elected for three full terms. During that time he served as school board president from 1967 – 1973.
In addition to his school involvement, Tom was a charter member of the Allen Volunteer Fire Department along with his father and served as a charter member of the Allen Lion’s Club. After his school service he served for many years on the local board of tax equalization.
Tom and Mary Lou raised three children in Allen; Thomas Jr. (Class of 73), Debra (Class of 74) and Johnny (Class of 79).
“My father was all about Allen,” explained his daughter Debra (Arledge). “I know he had opportunities outside of Allen for career advancement but he cared so much for this community that he chose to stay. It seems like he was always involved in some community project or committee.”
“He just loved this community,” said his wife Mary Lou (Ledbetter). “He was Allen’s number one cheerleader and I think we attended every sporting event in this town for many years.”
Having lived through all those years of high school sports, my father would have been thrilled at Allen’s 2008 5-A State Football Championship, said Arledge. “I looked around and saw twenty-five thousand or more fans in Reliant Stadium cheering for the Allen Eagles. It was like the stories he told of Allen emptying out for Friday night road games. He would have been so proud.”
Upon hearing that a school was being named in his honor, Tom Ereckson was speechless, said a newspaper article at the time. “A lot of good things have happened to me through my volunteer efforts in Allen,” he said “and I am overwhelmed to have a school named in my honor.”
If there is one anecdote that best describes Tom’s commitment to Allen, it would be a story from 1945. Most of Allen’s men were away at war so Tom, a high school sophomore, drove the school bus each morning and afternoon. He would also drive the drill team to away football games, then suit up, play the game and then drive the bus home. Now that’s Eagle spirit!
Tom Ereckson died in 2006 but the middle school on Tatum Drive is a testament to the community service and spirit that the farm kid from west Allen showed throughout his life.
