Col. (Ret.), Thomas E. Skrodzki, age 77 of Clarksville, TN passed away on Friday, August 23, 2024.
Tom was born on November 12, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois to Mickey and Jim Skrodzki. He is survived by the love of his life of 55 years, Kathryn (Senesac) of Fowler, Indiana and two wonderful children, Stephanie Grafstein (Mike), and Nick Skrodzki (Dana and three grandchildren, Nathan, Erica and Emery). He is also survived by brothers Rick of Western Springs, IL (Liz, daughter Annie, and son Micah), Dave of Princeton, NJ, (Coleen and daughter Kelly) and sister Jane Koltse of Killdeer, IL (George, and sons Nick and John).
A lifelong Catholic, Tom graduated from Loyola Academy in Wilmette, IL. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from St Joseph College, Rensselaer, Indiana where he was inducted as a College-Fellow. He obtained a Master of Arts in Education from Pepperdine University.
After enlisting in the Army in 1968 as a Private he was commissioned from the Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1969. His 26 year Army career included a tour of duty in Alaska as a company commander with the” Go Devil” Battalion of the 172d Infantry Brigade, serving in the Republic of South Vietnam as an Infantry Advisor to the 21st Infantry Division, 1/31 Infantry Battalion, Army of the Republic of Vietnam in IV Corp, with the 25th Infantry Division, Hawaii, US Army Computer Assistance, Acquisition and Contracting Agency, Alexandria, VA, the US Army Military Personnel Center, Alexandria, VA, the 3d Infantry Division, Republic of West Germany as the DMMO, and two tours at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in company and battalion command with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
He retired from a career in the United States Army in 1994 as a Colonel, culminating 26 years of active duty as the Garrison Commander at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Soldier’s Medal, four Bronze Star Medals, one with “Valor” device, five Meritorious Service Medals, two Air Medals, Army Commendation Medal, Cold War Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Vietnamese Staff Service Medal, the Liberation of Kuwait Medal, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge; and the Rigger’s Badge. He was inducted into the Infantry OCS Hall of Fame – Fort Benning, GA.
After his military career he worked as a Vice President, Senior Mortgage Lender for First Federal Savings Bank, Clarksville, TN, and joined Actus Lend Lease as a Vice President and Project Manager where he was responsible for bidding on, closing and managing the partnership at Fort Campbell, KY and other installations including Ft Knox.
In 1995 he began serving for 10 years as one of the founding members of the Citizen’s-For-Fort Campbell, a grass-roots organization working for the betterment of Fort Campbell and its families and Soldiers at the National level with Congressional members. He served a six-year term as a member of the Clarksville Montgomery County Industrial Development Board, serving as the Chairman 2008-2009. Tom was a Kentucky Colonel, and a Tennessee Aide De Camp to the Governor of Tennessee.
Tom was an avid lifetime reader, runner and golfer, and supporter of Austin Peay athletics as a member of the Governors Club.
Tom’s remains have been donated to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Anatomical Donation Program.
A Memorial Mass and Celebration of Tom’s life will be held at 11AM October 5th, 2024, at The Immaculate Conception Church at 716 Fraklin Street Clarksville.