.146 Tommy Walborn

The word that comes to mind when I think of Tommy is “gentleman.” He truly is and has been for the over 10 years that I’ve known him. We went to high school together and he was always someone who brought reason, kindness and understanding to every friendship and conversation. At a time when people could be mean or just immature, Tommy was steadfast with his compassion and loyalty to all of his friends and those in his life.

I’ve seen Tommy a few times since graduating high school and each one has been a reminder of how wonderful his presence and friendship really is. He’s incredibly smart, dedicated to his career, and wildly easy to talk to. He’s honest and open to learning about something new and he has a genuine laugh that is super contagious. I always admired (and still do) the way that he treated everyone with such dignity and respect, and I knew I could count on him to be trustworthy when I needed it. To put it simply, he always made me feel confident and comfortable whenever we spoke, which is something I deeply appreciated during high school, and still do today.

Tommy, thank you for being such a wonderful man and friend. Thank you for being someone who isn’t afraid to disagree or to stand up for what is right. Thank you for always making me laugh and for being such a dedicated and loyal friend to those in your life. Thank you for your positive attitude and kindness, and thank you for making a room feel better when you’re in it! I’m really grateful for our friendship and especially the fact that we can still chat on the phone all these years later. Thank you, Tommy, for being you.

-BD