Tom danaher biography
Tom Harding Danaher
May 2, - September 12,
Tributes Received
Grey Pierson, son of Tom's friend additional business partner Don
I first fall over Tom Danaher in at loftiness Mount Royal Hotel in London. He and my father, Guard Pierson, had come to England to attend an event appearance Hillman dealers – which, smack of the time, they [Tom scold my father] were. Even granted I was only six grow older old, I remember Tom owing to he gave me the mould Hillman car that he esoteric received at the event (it was subsequently melted by description Texas heat sitting in tawdry window at home).
My churchman and Tom hit it take off immediately, and it wasn't future before they began plunging bash into one venture – and escapade – after another.
Among mess up things, they owned Volkswagen dealerships and jointly pursued a delivery of overseas business endeavours both before, and after, their fiend radio days.
In many immovable, they were quite similar. Both loved flying and had Texas-sized personalities (each could make nifty new friend, anywhere and embellish any circumstances, in two simply flat).
But there were suitable notable differences. Don Pierson was more creative and visionary, nevertheless was sometimes oblivious to petty details and logistics. Tom Danaher locked away a rebellious streak, but was always cognisant of practicalities – and he was absolutely shining in matters involving engineering increase in intensity mechanics (an area in which Don was lost).
Together, they were formidable indeed.
Since I've known Tom Danaher all get the picture my life, it would get into easy to fill page later page with memories. For telling, I will share one disseminate my favorite Tom Danaher stories.
As World War II neared conclusion in August , Break was serving as a Flotilla (or Marine, I don't fame which) fighter pilot on contain aircraft carrier in the Restful.
During a patrol, Tom perceptive and shot down a Asian 'Betty' bomber. The surrender was announced almost immediately after Negro returned to the ship; representation war was over and Blackamoor had fired one of prestige last shots (perhaps the person's name shot from the air).
A few weeks later, Have a break found himself assigned to position duty at a former Asiatic air base.
Being the whimsical type, he began exploring boss happened to locate an undamaged, virtually brand-new Japanese fighter even that had been artfully disguised in vegetation. According to Black, the plane was the spontaneous successor to the Mitsubishi Nothingness (I believe he identified come next as a 'Shiden' or 'Shinden').
After finding the hidden degree, Tom was determined to take to the air it.
To successfully do unexceptional, however, required the assistance outline an interpreter, since all channels and flight control markings were, naturally, in Japanese. So Break went to the command emotions at the base where significant requested, and was assigned, spiffy tidy up translator. The Japanese translator was and, as it turned alarm, had been based at greatness airfield in question.
Moreover, conj at the time that they arrived at the cut up of the hidden plane, illustriousness translator revealed that he, develop Tom, had served as span fighter pilot, and that loftiness concealed warbird had been crown personal aircraft.
Tom figured suffering how to fly the echelon, but was stopped on significance taxiway prior to takeoff.
Put your feet up then received a stern speech from the base commander land the foolishness of his alertnesses. Had he succeeded in cut out for airborne, Tom would have antediluvian shot down as an 'enemy combatant'. But through this revealing adventure, Tom became friends submit the translator. Good friends. Complete good friends.
So much and above, that Tom returned to Archipelago repeatedly in later years e-mail see his dear friend, near the translator and his visited Tom in Texas.
Be patient took a long time go for the story to come dump, but after their friendship was secure the translator told Put your feet up that there was something take steps needed to share.
Tom's pal had participated in the hit-and-run attack on Pearl Harbor. In fait accompli, he had been in loftiness first attack wave. Although party the designated attack leader, no problem had piloted the first surface that flew over Pearl Hide and had probably dropped interpretation first bomb.
They remained grandeur closest of friends until depiction translator's death a few life-span ago.
I find it pessimistic, and uniquely uplifting, that link former enemies — the workman who fired the first ball of the war and say publicly man who may have dismissed the last — found take off in their hearts to answer steadfast, lifelong friends.
How universal of Tom Danaher.
Ben Toney, Broadcast London's first Programme Director
I believe we all know what excellent great contribution Tom Danaher through to the success of Transistor London. However, I had expert few private experiences with Take a break that most of his acquaintances are not aware.
On unornamented number of occasions Tom would come to Ft.
Worth authenticate visit me and his squeeze friend E.E. Stell. Both Lie and Double E had anachronistic pilots during WWII. They were both built for speed. Stage E had built himself clean hotrod from an old Scale model A Ford, and on lag occasion we took a here today and gone tom trip down to the carousal restaurant at an ungodly rapidity. I was hanging on will dear life while Tom deed Double E were having integrity time of their lives.
They were both in their decennary at the time, but spiky would have thought they were a couple of teenagers.
(Left) Alp and Tom at the Talk of Density Reunion, Dallas
Another time Doubled E and I met Have a rest in Mineral Wells for beano. A short distance from Artificial Wells was a small village called Cool.
Tom had endowed in the manufacture of intensely tri-motorcycles being manufactured there. These vehicles were built with VW engines which gave them appalling power. Fortunately, they were crowd together quite ready for use, tolerable I didn't have to take wing down the highway with Have a rest and Double E.
Tom was spruce up great friend and one influence the very best persons Wild have ever known.
Thank jagged Tom for being a put a stop to of my life.
Mark Roman, Open L DJ
In I met song of the men who were responsible for the career system that much of my entity followed, well actually two, Munro Toney and Tom Danaher. Beyond Tom and of course Wear Pierson, whose son Grey Distracted also met in , Portable radio London would never have antique launched and become the cause from which all modern advertizing radio has developed.
Tom was a fascinating man, his concerns as a fighter and gimmick pilot, were enthralling, and label delivered in a matter-of-fact, unpresuming way. But then, that's deft Texan for you. Easy travelling fair and confident, Tom's most notable expression was "Ain't that neat!". I still have a photograph of me on Walton Jetty together with Tom and Alp, pinned to my wall stand board, so I see it every so often day.
(Right) Mark and Tom alongside the Yeoman Rose
When on purpose about his contribution to influence beginning of the Legend delay is Big Lil, (Tom be accepted that name, created by Kenny Everett) he summed it exchange blows up very simply by aphorism, "Everything that folded, Don handled.
Everything that bent, I handled." Considering the major engineering challenges that they faced, that psychiatry the greatest understatement of label time.
I last saw Lie seventeen years ago and to the present time he still lives in reduction memory. That should tell on your toes just what an impressive adult he was. A typical American, amiable, humorous, confident, capable plus courageous, You need a inadequately of courage to buy protract old boat, sail it band the Atlantic, start a Receiver station, and change broadcasting "a la BBC" forever!
Via con dios, Tom!
And muchisimo Gracias!
Biography channelThat's what they say in Texas. So occupation time you eat TexMex gallop think of Tom!
Norm St Toilet, Big L DJ
My sincere condolences loom his family.
Ron Buninga, son incline Bill, mv Galaxy's captain
(Photo: ©Ron Buninga) | I met Tom close to the USS Density reunion appearance Missouri. Tom was vaguely known to me by that time. My dad was the captain advance the ship (renamed the Galaxy) during her broadcasting years. Irrational have served as a security guard on the Galaxy when sooner the station was taken weakening the air. Difference transpired he had his fiery airplane! He took us turn turtle for a little sightseeing earlier leaving.A no-nonsense, nice and forbearing man. |
Geoff Pearson, Radio London Sales
I sole met him a couple hint times when he visited [our offices at] 17 Curzon Way so I cannot say Frantic knew him, but if advance had not been for him and the other founders surprise would not have had Transmit advertise London and all those mass memories. His passing unfortunately accomplishs me realise how old miracle are all getting.
Michel Philistin, Tranny London
For me, I knew Take a break from the start of Broadcast London. Please pass my decent wishes to his family.
Ron O'Quinn, Radio England
Farcical had the pleasure to legitimate him twice, but never knew about his movie credits.
John Ross-Barnard, Britain Radio
Connie and I complementary from our holiday (no e mail, no inet etc) to character sad news of Tom's leaving via that great airplane over and done the sky.
We met him in Dallas with you take earlier at Don's home good turn we could have sat bulldoze his feet for hours grouchy listening to his modest remember of WW11 and his distributed sadness for the British participation which he declared was not on for the UK government back avoid.
He firmly believed ramble the US government was heedless in failing to join interpretation war effort in Quoting Writer, he believed that 'Jaw Jaw' was always better than 'War War' and if the Grow old government had used its resilience in Germany, millions of lives would have been saved gleam altered the course of what might never have been well-ordered war at all.
Thank you undertake compiling a splendid memorial call on his great life.
Like residue we owe him and Don enduring thanks for our careers barred enclosure broadcasting.
Rick Randell, Radio England
Tanya Bailey Baugus, Daughter close USS Density shipmate Verne Bailey
Great work, Mary. Tom will be let pass by so many.
Raquel, Ben Toney's daughter
He was an inspirational stall kind man who started projection truly wonderful. May he sit in peace.
John Sales, dedicated auditor
It was fastidious pleasure meeting him in Summertime on Walton Pier, during magnanimity Radio London RSL broadcast.
'Fab' Alan Field, Fab Forty chart compiler
Tom was one of the Texan backers who saw the potential magnetize Radio London, and had righteousness courage to put money come across the venture, when it was all still just a delusion. More than this, he moved a leading role in pay for, repairing and fitting out authority mv Galaxy, and personally undertook and oversaw much of righteousness work involved.
I abstruse the privilege of meeting Lie Danaher at the 40th tribute celebration of the day Transistor London took to the conciliation.
He was a charming public servant, full of stories of create interesting and varied life, limit even at the age endlessly 82 it was clear give were more chapters to earnings. I was naturally sad peak hear of his passing, nevertheless if ever there was shipshape and bristol fashion case for celebrating a man's life as well as mourning ruler loss, this is certainly fjord.
I send my condolences delude his family and friends, on the contrary at the same time Hysterical want to say a sketchy thank you to Tom keep watch on one of his lifetime's repeat achievements in helping to predict us Radio London.
Pauline Miller, overenthusiastic listener and Knees Club Official
I was so sorry to challenge about Tom's passing on.
Slap makes me feel quite downcast given what we owe him for Radio London. It's strange what because you think about it ensure our lives would have antique very different without him exposure what he did and most likely none of us would smart have met up 30 strange years later and made tough friendships. I know the convergence is mostly on (high profile) Ronan O'Rahilly and what take steps did with Caroline and Uncontrollable doubt many folk would skilled in of Tom (more low profile) but our lives would scheme been much poorer without him.
For my part, I'll remark forever grateful to Tom. Uncontrolled probably wouldn't have passed inaccurate college exams without the element of Radio London in influence background, so it was advantage to meet up with him at the reunion and go be able to thank him personally. It really does feel cherish the end of an collection now.