Thomas Humphreys McNiel was born in Washington, DC. His father was a regular Army officer, so young Tom grew up as an "Army brat."
Both he and his older brother Jack, Class of Jun '43, had always planned to go to the Military Academy. Tom graduated from high school in Washington, DC, and entered John Hopkins University's Peabody Conservatory of Music. During those early years, he played the saxophone in various local bands and remained a lifetime devotee of jazz.
On a bright spring day in 1941, several future classmates were sitting on the steps of the Millard Preparatory School in Washington, DC. They watched as a jolly young man stepped from a car with baggage in hand. It was obvious to them that he, too, was to be a fellow student working to obtain an appointment to West Point. As he approached the group with a smile and extended a hand of greeting, they knew instandy that there stood a person to know. When he said, 'just call me 'Pops,' they also knew, indeed, that there was a new friend who was sure to sweep away the gloom of intense preparatory studies.
Sweep away that "gloom" he did. With his byword of "solid, ole man," Pops was saying, "the world is fine, keep a smile on your face, tomorrow is bound to be a better day." Yes, truly, Pops to his many classmates and friends, was one "solid, ole man."
The description of Pops in his class '45 Howitzer says it well. "With a musical temperament and cosmopolitan tastes, Pops is a connoisseur of fine liquor, fine music, and fine chicks." A humorous description, but it did reflect the young man's cheerful approach to life. His popularity during his years at the Academy gained him a host of friends in his own class as well as classes junior to him.
He entered the Academy on 1 Jul 1942. As a plebe, he gathered more than his share of demerits for small infractions, but they all added up to many hours of walking "the Area." After his Plebe year, he soon became known to the new cadets as a "plebe daddy."
Also during his three cadet years, he became the authority on cadet slang. Not only did he know it all, but he used it as much as he could in his conversations. During his last two years, he excelled at walking "the Area," but he also managed the goat football team and wrote the 100th Nite Show in 1945.
Physical injuries made him ineligible for a regular commission, so upon graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps. With the end of WWII, Tom resigned from the Army in 1946 and attended graduate school in business management at George Washington University.
In 1947, with a $ 1.17 to his name, he decided to go to Texas. He entered the business world with the Williamson Dicky Manufacturing Company in Ft. Worth, TX, as the director of training. After a short time, he decided that his future was in sales, so Tom joined the National Life of Vermont. He was very successful in this work as a longtime member of the Million Dollar (insurance) Round Table of the National Association of Life Underwriters. He was the general agent of Tom McNiel & Associates. At death, he was the general agent emeritus of the Dallas agency of the National Life of Vermont.
During those early years, he met Maura Anderson. In 1952, they were married. Dallas was their home and remained as such until Tom's death.
It has been said that at the end of life, if you are able to count five true friends, then you are a rich man. Tom was wealthy beyond compare. His friends came from all walks of life. West Point never had a more loyal member of the Long Gray Line. He always said that he owed everything he had accomplished to West Point.
While he was very successful in the life insurance business at Thomas McNiel and Associates, he devoted an enormous amount of his time and energy to West Point. He organized the West Point Society of North Texas in 1952,started an Admissions Committee in 1953, and, several years later, helped form the South Texas (San Antonio) and the Houston West Point Societies. He even helped initiate the North Texas Society for Air Force graduates.
He was instrumental in helping many cadets enter the Academy, including Howard Graves, former West Point superintendent and now chancellor of Texas A&M University. During 1975-80, he chaired the West Point Admissions Committee which integrated minorities and women into the Academy. After many years as a trustee of the AOG, he was elected trustee emeritus. He also received the Special Award from Jesuit College Preparatory School for student educational and career guidance. In 1992, the Tom McNiel Scholarship Fund was established in his honor to enable deserving candidates to spend a year in military prep school prior to admission to West Point. (Donations can be sent to: The West Point Fund, 698 Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996; memo: Tom McNiel Scholarship Fund).
Tom is preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Andrea, in 1976; sister Vivian; and brother Jack.
He is survived by former wife, Maura Anderson McNiel; daughter Bridget McNiel; granddaughter Catalina Andrea McNiel of Los Altos, CA; daughter Amy McNiel of Lufkin, TX; son Richard McNiel of Dallas, TX; godchildren Dr. Allison Loudermilk of Ashland, OR; and Joel Loudermilk of Klamath Falls, OR.
Both he and his older brother Jack, Class of Jun '43, had always planned to go to the Military Academy. Tom graduated from high school in Washington, DC, and entered John Hopkins University's Peabody Conservatory of Music. During those early years, he played the saxophone in various local bands and remained a lifetime devotee of jazz.
On a bright spring day in 1941, several future classmates were sitting on the steps of the Millard Preparatory School in Washington, DC. They watched as a jolly young man stepped from a car with baggage in hand. It was obvious to them that he, too, was to be a fellow student working to obtain an appointment to West Point. As he approached the group with a smile and extended a hand of greeting, they knew instandy that there stood a person to know. When he said, 'just call me 'Pops,' they also knew, indeed, that there was a new friend who was sure to sweep away the gloom of intense preparatory studies.
Sweep away that "gloom" he did. With his byword of "solid, ole man," Pops was saying, "the world is fine, keep a smile on your face, tomorrow is bound to be a better day." Yes, truly, Pops to his many classmates and friends, was one "solid, ole man."
The description of Pops in his class '45 Howitzer says it well. "With a musical temperament and cosmopolitan tastes, Pops is a connoisseur of fine liquor, fine music, and fine chicks." A humorous description, but it did reflect the young man's cheerful approach to life. His popularity during his years at the Academy gained him a host of friends in his own class as well as classes junior to him.
He entered the Academy on 1 Jul 1942. As a plebe, he gathered more than his share of demerits for small infractions, but they all added up to many hours of walking "the Area." After his Plebe year, he soon became known to the new cadets as a "plebe daddy."
Also during his three cadet years, he became the authority on cadet slang. Not only did he know it all, but he used it as much as he could in his conversations. During his last two years, he excelled at walking "the Area," but he also managed the goat football team and wrote the 100th Nite Show in 1945.
Physical injuries made him ineligible for a regular commission, so upon graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps. With the end of WWII, Tom resigned from the Army in 1946 and attended graduate school in business management at George Washington University.
In 1947, with a $ 1.17 to his name, he decided to go to Texas. He entered the business world with the Williamson Dicky Manufacturing Company in Ft. Worth, TX, as the director of training. After a short time, he decided that his future was in sales, so Tom joined the National Life of Vermont. He was very successful in this work as a longtime member of the Million Dollar (insurance) Round Table of the National Association of Life Underwriters. He was the general agent of Tom McNiel & Associates. At death, he was the general agent emeritus of the Dallas agency of the National Life of Vermont.
During those early years, he met Maura Anderson. In 1952, they were married. Dallas was their home and remained as such until Tom's death.
It has been said that at the end of life, if you are able to count five true friends, then you are a rich man. Tom was wealthy beyond compare. His friends came from all walks of life. West Point never had a more loyal member of the Long Gray Line. He always said that he owed everything he had accomplished to West Point.
While he was very successful in the life insurance business at Thomas McNiel and Associates, he devoted an enormous amount of his time and energy to West Point. He organized the West Point Society of North Texas in 1952,started an Admissions Committee in 1953, and, several years later, helped form the South Texas (San Antonio) and the Houston West Point Societies. He even helped initiate the North Texas Society for Air Force graduates.
He was instrumental in helping many cadets enter the Academy, including Howard Graves, former West Point superintendent and now chancellor of Texas A&M University. During 1975-80, he chaired the West Point Admissions Committee which integrated minorities and women into the Academy. After many years as a trustee of the AOG, he was elected trustee emeritus. He also received the Special Award from Jesuit College Preparatory School for student educational and career guidance. In 1992, the Tom McNiel Scholarship Fund was established in his honor to enable deserving candidates to spend a year in military prep school prior to admission to West Point. (Donations can be sent to: The West Point Fund, 698 Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996; memo: Tom McNiel Scholarship Fund).
Tom is preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Andrea, in 1976; sister Vivian; and brother Jack.
He is survived by former wife, Maura Anderson McNiel; daughter Bridget McNiel; granddaughter Catalina Andrea McNiel of Los Altos, CA; daughter Amy McNiel of Lufkin, TX; son Richard McNiel of Dallas, TX; godchildren Dr. Allison Loudermilk of Ashland, OR; and Joel Loudermilk of Klamath Falls, OR.
Thomas Humphreys McNiel was born in Washington, DC. His father was a regular Army officer, so young Tom grew up as an "Army brat."
Both he and his older brother Jack, Class of Jun '43, had always planned to go to the Military Academy. Tom graduated from high school in Washington, DC, and entered John Hopkins University's Peabody Conservatory of Music. During those early years, he played the saxophone in various local bands and remained a lifetime devotee of jazz.
On a bright spring day in 1941, several future classmates were sitting on the steps of the Millard Preparatory School in Washington, DC. They watched as a jolly young man stepped from a car with baggage in hand. It was obvious to them that he, too, was to be a fellow student working to obtain an appointment to West Point. As he approached the group with a smile and extended a hand of greeting, they knew instandy that there stood a person to know. When he said, 'just call me 'Pops,' they also knew, indeed, that there was a new friend who was sure to sweep away the gloom of intense preparatory studies.
Sweep away that "gloom" he did. With his byword of "solid, ole man," Pops was saying, "the world is fine, keep a smile on your face, tomorrow is bound to be a better day." Yes, truly, Pops to his many classmates and friends, was one "solid, ole man."
The description of Pops in his class '45 Howitzer says it well. "With a musical temperament and cosmopolitan tastes, Pops is a connoisseur of fine liquor, fine music, and fine chicks." A humorous description, but it did reflect the young man's cheerful approach to life. His popularity during his years at the Academy gained him a host of friends in his own class as well as classes junior to him.
He entered the Academy on 1 Jul 1942. As a plebe, he gathered more than his share of demerits for small infractions, but they all added up to many hours of walking "the Area." After his Plebe year, he soon became known to the new cadets as a "plebe daddy."
Also during his three cadet years, he became the authority on cadet slang. Not only did he know it all, but he used it as much as he could in his conversations. During his last two years, he excelled at walking "the Area," but he also managed the goat football team and wrote the 100th Nite Show in 1945.
Physical injuries made him ineligible for a regular commission, so upon graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps. With the end of WWII, Tom resigned from the Army in 1946 and attended graduate school in business management at George Washington University.
In 1947, with a $ 1.17 to his name, he decided to go to Texas. He entered the business world with the Williamson Dicky Manufacturing Company in Ft. Worth, TX, as the director of training. After a short time, he decided that his future was in sales, so Tom joined the National Life of Vermont. He was very successful in this work as a longtime member of the Million Dollar (insurance) Round Table of the National Association of Life Underwriters. He was the general agent of Tom McNiel & Associates. At death, he was the general agent emeritus of the Dallas agency of the National Life of Vermont.
During those early years, he met Maura Anderson. In 1952, they were married. Dallas was their home and remained as such until Tom's death.
It has been said that at the end of life, if you are able to count five true friends, then you are a rich man. Tom was wealthy beyond compare. His friends came from all walks of life. West Point never had a more loyal member of the Long Gray Line. He always said that he owed everything he had accomplished to West Point.
While he was very successful in the life insurance business at Thomas McNiel and Associates, he devoted an enormous amount of his time and energy to West Point. He organized the West Point Society of North Texas in 1952,started an Admissions Committee in 1953, and, several years later, helped form the South Texas (San Antonio) and the Houston West Point Societies. He even helped initiate the North Texas Society for Air Force graduates.
He was instrumental in helping many cadets enter the Academy, including Howard Graves, former West Point superintendent and now chancellor of Texas A&M University. During 1975-80, he chaired the West Point Admissions Committee which integrated minorities and women into the Academy. After many years as a trustee of the AOG, he was elected trustee emeritus. He also received the Special Award from Jesuit College Preparatory School for student educational and career guidance. In 1992, the Tom McNiel Scholarship Fund was established in his honor to enable deserving candidates to spend a year in military prep school prior to admission to West Point. (Donations can be sent to: The West Point Fund, 698 Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996; memo: Tom McNiel Scholarship Fund).
Tom is preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Andrea, in 1976; sister Vivian; and brother Jack.
He is survived by former wife, Maura Anderson McNiel; daughter Bridget McNiel; granddaughter Catalina Andrea McNiel of Los Altos, CA; daughter Amy McNiel of Lufkin, TX; son Richard McNiel of Dallas, TX; godchildren Dr. Allison Loudermilk of Ashland, OR; and Joel Loudermilk of Klamath Falls, OR.
Both he and his older brother Jack, Class of Jun '43, had always planned to go to the Military Academy. Tom graduated from high school in Washington, DC, and entered John Hopkins University's Peabody Conservatory of Music. During those early years, he played the saxophone in various local bands and remained a lifetime devotee of jazz.
On a bright spring day in 1941, several future classmates were sitting on the steps of the Millard Preparatory School in Washington, DC. They watched as a jolly young man stepped from a car with baggage in hand. It was obvious to them that he, too, was to be a fellow student working to obtain an appointment to West Point. As he approached the group with a smile and extended a hand of greeting, they knew instandy that there stood a person to know. When he said, 'just call me 'Pops,' they also knew, indeed, that there was a new friend who was sure to sweep away the gloom of intense preparatory studies.
Sweep away that "gloom" he did. With his byword of "solid, ole man," Pops was saying, "the world is fine, keep a smile on your face, tomorrow is bound to be a better day." Yes, truly, Pops to his many classmates and friends, was one "solid, ole man."
The description of Pops in his class '45 Howitzer says it well. "With a musical temperament and cosmopolitan tastes, Pops is a connoisseur of fine liquor, fine music, and fine chicks." A humorous description, but it did reflect the young man's cheerful approach to life. His popularity during his years at the Academy gained him a host of friends in his own class as well as classes junior to him.
He entered the Academy on 1 Jul 1942. As a plebe, he gathered more than his share of demerits for small infractions, but they all added up to many hours of walking "the Area." After his Plebe year, he soon became known to the new cadets as a "plebe daddy."
Also during his three cadet years, he became the authority on cadet slang. Not only did he know it all, but he used it as much as he could in his conversations. During his last two years, he excelled at walking "the Area," but he also managed the goat football team and wrote the 100th Nite Show in 1945.
Physical injuries made him ineligible for a regular commission, so upon graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps. With the end of WWII, Tom resigned from the Army in 1946 and attended graduate school in business management at George Washington University.
In 1947, with a $ 1.17 to his name, he decided to go to Texas. He entered the business world with the Williamson Dicky Manufacturing Company in Ft. Worth, TX, as the director of training. After a short time, he decided that his future was in sales, so Tom joined the National Life of Vermont. He was very successful in this work as a longtime member of the Million Dollar (insurance) Round Table of the National Association of Life Underwriters. He was the general agent of Tom McNiel & Associates. At death, he was the general agent emeritus of the Dallas agency of the National Life of Vermont.
During those early years, he met Maura Anderson. In 1952, they were married. Dallas was their home and remained as such until Tom's death.
It has been said that at the end of life, if you are able to count five true friends, then you are a rich man. Tom was wealthy beyond compare. His friends came from all walks of life. West Point never had a more loyal member of the Long Gray Line. He always said that he owed everything he had accomplished to West Point.
While he was very successful in the life insurance business at Thomas McNiel and Associates, he devoted an enormous amount of his time and energy to West Point. He organized the West Point Society of North Texas in 1952,started an Admissions Committee in 1953, and, several years later, helped form the South Texas (San Antonio) and the Houston West Point Societies. He even helped initiate the North Texas Society for Air Force graduates.
He was instrumental in helping many cadets enter the Academy, including Howard Graves, former West Point superintendent and now chancellor of Texas A&M University. During 1975-80, he chaired the West Point Admissions Committee which integrated minorities and women into the Academy. After many years as a trustee of the AOG, he was elected trustee emeritus. He also received the Special Award from Jesuit College Preparatory School for student educational and career guidance. In 1992, the Tom McNiel Scholarship Fund was established in his honor to enable deserving candidates to spend a year in military prep school prior to admission to West Point. (Donations can be sent to: The West Point Fund, 698 Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996; memo: Tom McNiel Scholarship Fund).
Tom is preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Andrea, in 1976; sister Vivian; and brother Jack.
He is survived by former wife, Maura Anderson McNiel; daughter Bridget McNiel; granddaughter Catalina Andrea McNiel of Los Altos, CA; daughter Amy McNiel of Lufkin, TX; son Richard McNiel of Dallas, TX; godchildren Dr. Allison Loudermilk of Ashland, OR; and Joel Loudermilk of Klamath Falls, OR.
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