S&D's Tom Hodgson gets hometown "Hall" honor

April 18, 2012

Tom Hodgson, the Tommie Swimming and Diving coach for more than three decades, was inducted into the Rochester (Minn.) Quarterback Club Hall of Fame in ceremonies Monday night.

The Rochester native joins UST athletic director Steve Fritz and former Tommie All-America basketball player Laurie Trow as QB Club inductees.

More than 350 attended Monday's ceremonies, which were also simulcast live on a Rochester radio station.

“I was very happy to be joined by my 97-year old father and all my living siblings, plus my wife Michele,” Hodgson said. "I was especially flattered that Steve Fritz and JoAnn Andregg would make the trip down to share this evening. They are two classy individuals.”  

Hodgson won four state championships in three events and set a state record in the 200 IM while swimming at Rochester Mayo High. He went on to swim collegiately at the University of Minnesota. He was a co-captain for the Gophers, broke a U of M school record in the 400 IM and placed second all-time in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke.

“The evening had so many personal highlights, but perhaps the most important was meeting my old high school coach, Dick Thatcher, after four decades, and being able to express to him my appreciation for all he gave to me as a young athlete," Hodgson recalled.

He’s been coaching at St. Thomas for 33 seasons. His 2010 Tommie men’s team captured the program’s first MIAC title in 57 years, and the 2012 team added another conference team championship. Hodgson has won several MIAC Coach of the Year honors and ranks among the longest tenured head coaches in all MIAC sports.

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Click here to read Tom's remarks delivered at Monday's induction ceremonies:

http://www.tommiesports.com/msd/news/Speech_Hodgson.html

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Click here to see a story on the event in the Rochester Post Bulletin:

http://www.postbulletin.com/news/stories/display.php?id=1493361