1953 was a monumental year. The Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) was organized that year, and Tom and Jane Pritchard began life as husband and wife. Both attended Weatherford Junior College. They graduated with associate degrees on a Friday night and got married, in church, the following Tuesday evening. Tom said he asked Jane if they were going to get married and she said, “Yes.”
Tom and Jane celebrated their seventieth wedding anniversary on June 2, 2023. The couple have a daughter, two sons, a son-in-law, two daughters-in-law, seven grandchildren, and seventeen great-grandchildren.
Tom and Jane also began their teaching careers in 1953. They began teaching in Peaster, Texas on emergency certificates while attending Texas Wesleyan College as full-time students. Tom retired in 1987, while Jane retired in 1988. One of the athletes Tom coached in Old Glory, Texas was former Texas Governor Rick Perry. Tom also coached the only young lady to ever win the state tennis tournament four times.
Tom Pritchard was the President of TRTA from 2002 to 2004. Tom and Jane Pritchard received the E.L. Galyean Service Award in 2011, TRTA’s highest honor. They are invaluable, long-time workers and advocates for TRTA. Tom was part of a group of leaders that purchased the lot where the TRTA state office building now stands in downtown Austin. There was a program called “Walk to the Wall,” which allowed members to contribute funds for the construction of the building. Tom is very proud of the view of the Capitol from the TRTA headquarters. The names of Tom and Jane Pritchard are on one of the steppingstones outside the building.
Tom was also part of a contingency that helped pass the notable CPI Catch-Up Plan in 1993. The plan had several facets that helped TRS annuitants. Jane served on the Audit Committee at state conventions for several years.
A highlight of Tom’s service for TRTA is that he was instrumental in forming the Texas Retired Teachers Foundation (TRTF) in 1988. The Lehr-Pritchard Endowment Fund is named in honor of his contributions, along with former TRTA Executive Director Mike Lehr. He is proud of the many annuitants and active teachers the Foundation assists. He remembers the first person who asked for help, a woman who contributed to her community by delivering Meals on Wheels. She asked for one new tire, and the Foundation granted her the money for four new tires. “A Helping Hand,” First-Year Teacher Scholarships, Classroom Assistance Grants, and the Lehr-Pritchard Endowment Fund continue to help educators across Texas! Tom Pritchard helped get it all started.
Tom first met TRTA Executive Director Tim Lee in Washington, D.C. Tim was working for the Illinois Retired Teachers Association (IRTA) when Tom told him to consider coming to Texas. Tom was one of the people who interviewed and hired Tim in 1994!
Tom has limited vision, so Jane is their driver. She has accompanied Tom on every mile across the state of Texas as they served retired educators. Tom and Jane attend as many TRTA events as possible. They are both 90 years old and still do what they can do to contribute. Tom hopes to see TRTA reach 100,000 members. The couple are busy spreading the word to get out and vote for Proposition 9.
We are fortunate to have these amazing people working for us! Thank you, Tom and Jane!!!! Happy 70th Anniversary to TRTA and Happy 70th Anniversary to Tom and Jane Pritchard.
