San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
TOM MILLIGAN
August 30, 1940 - June 15, 2022
Tom Milligan, father, grandfather, athlete, educator, career Air Force officer
Tom Milligan completed an incredible journey highlighted by family, friends, athletic feats, and forward progress this week, a day after his 58th wedding anniversary with his wife, Dot. On June 15, he passed at home peacefully, following a battle with dementia and cancer.
Tom was born in Philadelphia on Aug. 30, 1940, and was an obviously bright, but not terribly dedicated, high school student. He changed when he joined the Air Force as an Airman, was selected for an officer training program, and ended up earning a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University and both an MBA and a Business master’s degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.
Tom met his wife, Dot, on a blind date; they married on June 14, 1964. He credited her with being his term-paper editor and partner, motivator, and his rock, which in turn, paved the way for his rise through the ranks to retire as a Major in the Air Force after a 31-year career. He served half that time as an enlisted man, half as an officer, all with distinction, and retired in 1989.
Adding to the chaos of careers and college courses, Tom and Dot had three sons, Tom, Mark, and Christopher while juggling Tom’s far-flung Air Force assignments--everywhere from Panama and South Korea to Washington, D.C., Mississippi, Utah, Wichita Falls, and, always, back to San Antonio, a city he loved and called home. Tom was awarded several commendations and recognized as
a skilled and valuable auditor.
Tom was an athlete throughout his life. He began his Air Force career as the first baseman (he was a lefty) for the European softball team based in Greece that traveled the continent. Later, he would bowl a perfect game the night he was admitted to the officer training program. He would win the entire Air Force’s racquetball tournament and was ranked among the top players on every base he was assigned to and coached his kids in football and baseball.
Tom, building on his education and Air Force experiences as an auditor, began a second career teaching accounting at St. Phillip’s College, a historically Black college in San Antonio. He spearheaded the formation of San Antonio’s VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program to prepare tax returns for people and small businesses in need while giving students valuable tax preparation experience. The St. Phillip’s VITA program continues as a model for educational community service. Tom mentored many students, encouraging them to go on to four-year degrees as he had done, and over the years, offering advice, encouragement, and mentorship.
His greatest athletic passion was golf, which he took up after Dot bought him a set of clubs for Christmas in 1963 the year before they married. Before long, Tom’s handicap hovered around scratch, and he played regularly into his late 70s—making two hole-inones after turning 60. He also accumulated enough bucket hats, shirts, balls, clubs, head covers, and shoes to fill closets and most of the garage.
Tom had friends and golf buddies all over town and was always happy and laughing on the course. His ability to “stripe ‘em down the middle” was legendary, as was his friendly banter and positive attitude. Just a few weeks before his passing, with his cancer and dementia taking their toll, he joined his sons Tommy and Mark and their close family friend Rich Gibbs for one last golf outing. True to form, he hit ‘em right down the middle.
In retirement, Tom golfed, of course, and he and Dot took several memorable trips – everywhere from the UK to Alaska to Mexico. They returned with stories, pictures, souvenirs, and laughs for everyone. Tom was proud to be Pop Pop to five extraordinary grandchildren and loved to be with them and hear of their exploits and successes. They, in turn, knew how Pop Pop and Grandmom’s hard work had made the family’s success possible. One of his final family celebrations was the wedding of his only granddaughter in November, where family from around the country gathered.
Tom is survived by his wife of 58 years, Dot, who, like Tom, went to college after they got married and who earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree. He is survived by: his son Tom, his wife, Coleman Cornelius, and their sons, Quinn and Mason Milligan; his son Mark, his wife, Christine, and their children, daughter Meagan Budic and husband Eldin Budic and sons Sean and Brent Milligan; his son Christopher and his wife, Mendy Cleveland. He is also survived by his brother Robert Cavanaugh and preceded in death by Robert’s wife, Bonnie; and survived by sisters Margaret Williamson and Helena