Born: August 13, 1936 - Gainesville, FL
Died: August 31, 2024 - Brooksville, FL
Thomas Edward "Tommy" Bronson was born on August 13, 1936, in Gainesville, Florida, as the oldest child of Thomas Jefferson Bronson and Edna Clayton Howell Bronson and was proud to say that he was a descendant of an original Florida Pioneer family. He is preceded in death by his parents and his younger sister, Patricia Gail Bronson (Marion).
Tommy graduated from P.K. Yonge Laboratory High School in 1954, where he earned All-State honors as a standout athlete in football, basketball, and baseball, and served as captain of all three teams. He was president of his senior class and served as Lieutenant Governor of Florida’s Key Clubs while a senior. He cherished the exceptional educational foundation he received there and maintained lifelong friendships with his classmates.
Tommy earned a full scholarship to the University of Tennessee to play football and baseball. However, after his first fall in Knoxville, Coach Bowden Wyatt wanted him to focus solely on football. At Tennessee, Tommy started 32 consecutive games as a Fullback and Defensive Halfback on teams consistently ranked in the top 10 in the U.S., including one that won the SEC Championship and finished #2 in the country. Coach Wyatt once said that Tommy Bronson "was the best Vol he ever coached." In 2006, Tennessee named its Football indoor locker room the Bronson/Johnson Locker Room in honor of Tommy and his lifelong friend, roommate, and teammate, Bill Johnson.
In addition to his athletic achievements, Tommy was an outstanding student. He earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration with a major in Finance. He was president of his senior class, elected to Omicron Delta Kappa honor society and the Scarrabean Honor Society, and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He also served as the Battalion Commander of the ROTC. Upon graduation, he entered active duty as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served with the Second Infantry Division from 1958 to 1960, eventually being honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves. In 1995, he attended the U.S. Air Force Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base.
In his first and only trip to Gainesville as a Volunteer, Tommy helped Tennessee beat the Gators by scoring all three touchdowns in a 20-0 win. After the game, his former P.K. Yonge classmate introduced him to Sarah Alice McKethan, a beautiful girl from Brooksville and a former Miss HHS. Two years later, they were married in 1957 and graduated from the University of Tennessee together. Although Tommy was drafted by the Detroit Lions after his senior season, he chose to enter the workforce instead. After a brief stint in the U.S. Army, Sarah Alice and Tommy returned to Brooksville to raise their family. Tommy began working for Sarah Alice’s father, Bud McKethan, at Brooksville Rock Company as Assistant Superintendent in 1959, later becoming Executive Vice-President in 1963.
Brooksville Rock became Florida Mining & Materials in 1971, and Tommy served as President and Chief Executive Officer until 1979 when the company was sold. From 1980 to 1985, he was President and CEO of Moore McCormack Cement and Florida Mining; from 1986 to 1989, he was Chairman and CEO of Ideal Basic Industries in Denver, Colorado. At the time Ideal was both the country's largest cement company and bankrupt. After returning it to profitability he sold it to Holderbank which is now Holcim. From 1992 to 2002, he was President and CEO of Meridian Aggregates in Denver, CO, which was sold to Martin Marietta in 2002 as the 7th largest Aggregate Company in the U.S. In 2011 at the age of 75, he co-founded and was President of America Silica Inc., a frac sand operation in Blackrock, Arkansas.
Tommy held numerous leadership roles, including being a Vice-Chairman of the Florida Council of 100, Chairman of Independent Aggregates of Inglis, Florida, Portland Cement Association of America, and the American Cement Trade Alliance. He was also past President of the Aggregate Association of Florida, Inc., and the Florida Concrete & Products Association. His directorships included the Exchange National Bank of Tampa, Hernando State Bank of Brooksville, Florida Chamber of Commerce, and KinderCare Learning Centers. He was on the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District. He was actively involved with the College of Business Administration Advisory Councils at the University of Florida and the University of Tennessee and served as an Industry Member with the U.S. Trade Representative in Washington, D.C. Tommy was also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the University of Tampa and Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia. While serving at the University of Tampa, Tommy helped guide the school out of difficult times and back into a healthy financial situation and a thriving educational institution.
In his community, Tommy was a past president of the Brooksville Kiwanis Club and a member for over 50 years. He was president of the Leopard Quarterback Club at just 29 years old, long before his children reached high school age. He received the Businessman of the Year Award from the Hernando County Chamber of Commerce and the Distinguished Service Award from the Brooksville Jaycees. He was inducted into the Hernando High School Sports Hall of Fame for his pivotal role in getting Tom Fisher Stadium built in Brooksville and was instrumental in founding the Hernando Youth League and getting the Ernie Wever Sports Complex built at Stringer Hill by donating labor, equipment and materials.
Tommy’s exceptional business acumen and numerous successes were well-known, but those closest to him understood that the true driving forces in his life were his faith and family. Tommy and Sarah Alice had four children, Mary Alice, Beth, Lynda, and Tom, and they were a vital part of the Brooksville community, active members of First Presbyterian Church, and later founding members of Faith Presbyterian Church, where Tommy served as an elder, Sunday school teacher, chairman of the Christian Education committee, and sang in the choir. In 2019, he was named Elder Emeritus at Faith Church.
Tommy was a Christian gentleman of the highest character, treating everyone with the same respect and kindness, whether they were a congressman, CEO, or skilled laborer in one of his operations. His loving smile and firm handshake were his trademarks. Selflessly, he cared for the needs of others and always reminded his family to care for those less fortunate. Tommy's faith in Christ was steadfast throughout his life. He would be the first to tell you that every success that was his in this world came as a result of the goodness of God in his life. His faith was the guiding principle in the man he was.
Family was Tommy’s greatest delight. His children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren were his pride and joy. He made countless sacrifices to be involved in their lives and maintained close personal relationships with all 16 of his grandchildren. He rarely missed a game or event, always there to cheer them on. As busy and important as he was in the lives of so many people his family always knew that they were his priority.
Sarah Alice passed away in December 2000 from ovarian cancer. A mutual friend introduced Tommy to Connie Hollingsworth from Knoxville, and the two were married in September 2004. They enjoyed traveling, sailing, and spending time at the family’s North Carolina mountain cabin, as well as visiting their children and grandchildren.
Tommy’s passions extended beyond his work and family. He was an avid sailor, frequently captaining his boat in the British Virgin Islands and the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest. He also obtained his pilot’s license and was passionate about aviation. His lifelong love for the Tennessee Volunteers was unwavering, and he rarely missed attending or watching a game, always donning his orange baseball cap. He lived by the Tennessee football maxim, “When the breaks go against you, don’t get rattled, but put on steam.” Tommy put on steam and lived purposefully and passionately in every aspect of life.
Tommy was a fierce competitor, both on the field and in the boardroom. His work ethic was unparalleled, and he instilled the values of teamwork and integrity in the young men he coached. He demanded excellence from himself and those around him, always striving to be a lifelong learner and problem solver. There was no challenge too great, and no quit in the man. He was a good and faithful servant to his Lord and the world is a better place for him having lived in it.
Tommy is preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Sarah Alice McKethan Bronson. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Connie Hollinsworth Bronson; his children, Mary Alice Bailey (Doug), Beth Kompo (Gary), Lynda Swicegood (Carr), and Tom Bronson (Carolyn); 16 grandchildren: Will Carlson, Clayton Carlson, Alex Kompo, Bronson Kompo, Sarah Alice Kompo, Gabriel Kompo, Helena Kompo, Neesa Kompo, Joseph Swicegood, Andrew Swicegood (Liz), Sarah Margaret Swicegood, Thomas Bronson (Marissa), Robert Hill Bronson, John Bronson, Ali Bronson, and David Hale Bronson; and 3 great-granddaughters: Alessi Kompo, Avery Alice Bronson, and Stassi Bronson. He is also survived by his three stepsons: Stacy Adams (Laurel Lee), Dan Adams (Daphne), and Chris Adams (Kylee); and six step-grandchildren: Anna, Nate, Charlie, Emie, Sam, and Drew Adams.
The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00pm on Friday, September 6, 2024, at Saxon Manor Garden Room (103 South Saxon Ave., Brooksville, FL 34601). Orange attire is encouraged.
Funeral Services celebrating Tommy's life will be conducted on Saturday, September 7th, at 10:30 am at Faith Church Brooksville (200 Mt. Fair Ave., Brooksville, FL 34601), followed by a Graveside Ceremony at Brookville Cemetery (1275 Olmes Rd., Brooksville, FL 34601) concluded by a Reception and refreshments at Brooksville Country Club (23446 Links Drive, Brooksville, FL 34601).
Pallbearers will be Tommy’s 11 grandsons. Honorary Pallbearers: Joe Mason, Dr. George Boring, Jim Kimbrough, Paul Tregurtha, Dan Cook, Jim Smelcher, Blaine Bronson, Faron Bostic, Bob Sartor, Justin Rooks, Jimmy Stewart and Bud Coleman and Jim Carman.
If you wish to make memorial gifts, they may be directed to:
Faith Church Brooksville: http://www.FaithChurchBrooksville.com
