Thomas William Madigan

Tom Madigan, age 67, passed away January 12, 2024, after a brief illness. He was born in 1956 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the homeland of his mother, Lucy. The family moved to Montgomery in 1959, where his father Bob became an English language instructor for foreign officers in the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base. Tom attended Seth Johnson Elementary School, Floyd Middle School, and Sidney Lanier High School, where he was on the wrestling team and from which he graduated in 1975. He earned two degrees in Biology at Auburn University, including a Master’s Degree.

Tom is survived by his sister, Teresa M. Watkins and husband, Keith Watkins; nephew Scott Watkins and wife Jenny, of Greenville, South Carolina; niece Emily W. Holcombe and husband, Patrick, of Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee; grandniece Hazel Watkins; grandnephews Gage and Noah Watkins, and Will, Benjamin, and Samuel Holcombe; two first cousins, Tim Lyons and Ed Lyons and their families; and a host of maternal cousins in Brazil. Tom was predeceased by his parents, Robert I. Madigan and Lucia P. Madigan; and by his sister and brother-in-law, Elaine J. Phillips and Pat Phillips.

After several years of teaching middle school math and science, Tom was employed by the Alabama Department of Conservation for a number of years. He then transferred to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) where he completed his career as water system license specialist. Tom was certified in over a dozen water-quality specialties. He retired from ADEM in 2022.

Tom’s hobbies included fishing, hunting, shooting, ammo-loading, and amateur taxidermy. He was a dead-eye shot with most weapons, but especially pistols. He took at least two bucks – one a 12 pointer – with his scoped .357 pistol. He was also a black-powder enthusiast and took two bucks by that method as well. Tom was active for many years in local rescue squads.

Tom passed away peacefully in the home of and surrounded by family. His wit, encyclopedic gun and ammunition knowledge, hunting tales, and quirky humor and observations will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.