Remembering Fairmont’s Mahoney
Posted on August 4th, 2008 – 1:08 PMBy John Millea
Longtime Fairmont High School football coach Tom Mahoney, who ranks among the most successful coaches in Minnesota history, died Sunday in Fairmont at 81. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Fairmont.
Here is a link to a wonderful story about Mahoney written by Fairmont Sentinel sports editor Charlie Sorrells. Fittingly, the headline is “The passing of a legend.”
I was introduced to Tom a few years ago. He was sitting on a bench at field level during the Prep Bowl at the Metrodome, alongside Brainerd coach Ron Stolski. Ron introduced me to Tom, and we chatted about Fairmont and the surrounding area. My Iowa hometown, Graettinger, is a short drive south of Fairmont so we had lots to talk about. Tom even invited me to stop by his house whenever I was driving through town.
Tom was known all over the state, and he will be missed.
5 Responses to "Remembering Fairmont’s Mahoney"
I remember Tom Mahoney from back in the mid 1960’s not only as an outstanding FB coach from Fairmont, but a pretty good basketball referee as well. In those years I saw the team of Dahlke and Mahoney officate quite a few game all around southwestern Minnesota. He was an imposing figure. I don’t recall many coaches questioning Tom Mahoney’s calls.
Minnesota lost a great great man with the passing of Tom Mahoney.
Tom was a man that touched not only thousand of young people but everyone who ever met him.
My prayers are with his family and I know I am a better person because my life crossed paths with Tom Mahoney
God Bless you Tom
Tom was a wonderful person whose success went way beyond wins and awards. He truly cared about people, and did his very best to be of service to others as a teacher, coach, athletic director, official, and through his work as the Region 2A Secretary. He was personable, extremely well
organized, and loved life. Just being around him was uplifting, and he will be dearly missed.
This man is a legend!
I played basketball in the 60’s when Tom Mahoney was a basketball referee. It was always a pleasure to have Dahlke and Mahoney officiate any of our games. They were conscientious, fair and very friendly to the players.
