Phenomenal – adjective, “Very remarkable or extraordinary”
If you knew Dr. Strong, you knew that “Phenomenal” was one of his favorite adjectives. Many times I heard him use the word to describe a skiers performance, their character/work ethic, or just a past team in general. Sometimes, he would talk in a way that made you think “man those must have been the good ‘ole days”. If you ever sat with Doc on his porch at Lake Tuscaloosa, or on the shoreline at a tournament, or walked with him on campus, eventually you realized that he talked about ALL of his teams as if they represented “the glory days – of SkiBama”. Dr. Tom Strong’s answered his true calling in life as a mentor and supporter of young adults through the sport of waterskiing.
“I walk into Alston Hall just about every day of my life. I walk into that building striving to be half the person my mentor was…to serve the University of Alabama, our students, our alumni, and our water skiers. Twelve years ago I ended a tour of a school that I had no intention of attending, on a balcony overlooking the stadium and the most beautiful campus in America (in my opinion). That balcony is just a few steps away from my current office. Tom Strong didn’t just paint a story that ensured there was no other University or ski team that could give you the experience that the Capstone could…he gave you a family, believed in your dreams, set the bar high and expected so much of you…and loved you all the same when you fell short. Doc loved every skier as if they were his. While he wanted you to be the best skier you could be, he honestly only cared that you were the best person you could be. I know Ski Bama will continue to Ski Strong for Doc and the legacy that he left for us and no skier that ever skied for him or UA will ever be the same because of the phenomenal life that he lived.”
Courtney Miller | University of Alabama Executive Director of External Relations, SkiBama Advisor
The first time I met Dr. Strong was on one of his famous tours of the University of Alabama’s campus. He had recently retired as Dean of Students, but still had plenty of connections with the university. I did not grow up an Alabama fan, nor was it ever a place I thought I would end up. After I’d heard good things about the team from the skiing community, I thought “what the heck, let’s go for a visit”.
Dr. Strong met my family at the student recreation center, a building that Doc was instrumental in securing funding and the design process. We strolled through the facility while he showed us all the amenities, along with some waterski specific items – like the team’s trophy case and a huge poster of Billy Susi slaloming. The ski team was the only club sport to have those types of representation, and Doc made sure to let you know that! He took us around campus on a private tour. Parking right in front of every building, with access to every door – I thought “man, this guy really has connections!”. Now I’m thinking it was probably a mix of the ‘connections’ and the handicap parking pass.
Doc always made a point to sell UA’s strong academic offerings to prospective students (as the phrase goes, “Waterskiing is important, but Education is importanter”… or is it the other way around?). The second “event” of Doc’s famous tours typically involved a visit to the specific college the recruit was interested. In many cases, he would set up 1 on 1 meetings with professors, or have grad students show the recruit and their family around a research lab. In my case, we toured the 4 brand new buildings in the College of Engineering. We also met with a Mechanical Engineering professor that talked me through some of the project/research opportunities in which I could get involved.
The tour always concluded with a visit to several skiing sites, whether it be the Black Warrior River just off campus, or the world-class private lake of LymanLand USA (just 30min south of campus). This was obviously everyone’s favorite part!
Doc always sold the team through SkiBama’s comradery and fellowship. Current team members would help along the tours between classes, or meet up with the recruit at the lake. Doc would schedule a team dinner at his favorite Mexican restaurant that night so the recruit had a chance to meet everyone on the team. The 1st weekend in the fall when everyone got to campus, Doc and his wife Pam hosted a big cookout on Lake Tuscaloosa. Eating burgers on the patio after an afternoon of tricking behind their MasterCraft 197 was the best way to “kick off the season”. It was these points of comradery and fellowship that really sold myself and many others on attending the University of Alabama. Dr. Strong made it clear that UA was the perfect place to train, grow, and excel, in all facets of life.
Dr. Strong was incredibly proud of the facilities on the University of Alabama’s campus, along with the academic institution which they housed, but he really shined when he talked about the waterski team. It seemingly knew every skier’s ranking by memory, and spoke about every team member as they were the most important skier, whether a longline B team skier, or a current world champion. He was always supportive, uplifting, and so incredibly proud of the team.
“Doc is one of the most genuine, caring, honest men I have ever met. He has a special way of investing himself in each and every one of his students on a personal level. Doc meant a great deal to me personally. He taught me a lot about life and how to handle adversity through the passing of his wife and the onset of his disease. Even in some of the darkest times of his sickness, I never saw him with a bad attitude, but he never skipped a beat with his witty jokes and smart comments. He always had a smile on his face and loved his students almost as much as he loved the sport of waterskiing. Doc attended every single collegiate waterski nationals EVER until 2016 when his Parkinson’s would no longer let him. As the man who started the Alabama waterski team, his influence and impact does not stop there but carries through collegiate waterskiing as a whole.”
Dason Maloney | Skibama Skier and President, 2014-2018
Dr. Strong coached the Alabama waterski team for 34 years and attended at least that many Collegiate nationals. Even after he had stepped down from coaching and handling the administrative responsibilities of the team, Doc still made it a point to travel to Nationals every year. He absolutely loved “The Nationals” and attended until 2017 when his Parkinson’s disease made it impossible to make the trip. Through the years, he cheered on his team, encouraged the skiers, and sweet-talked prospective recruits into coming to UA (somethings never change). I’ll always remember Doc at his last two collegiate nationals, addressing the team on the shoreline, and standing with everyone on the podium.
Dr. Strong loved his skiers like family. SkiBama alumnus agree Doc truly cared for us, his kindness and sincerity was unmatched.
“ We lost a great man this week.
Travis Moye | SkiBama Alum, Owner of The Boarding School
Without question, the main reason I chose to go to Alabama was our coach Dr. Tom Strong. I met Dr. Strong when I was probably 15 years old, working at Linda Giddens Ski School. He brought his boys over for a week and the wheels got set into motion. We got to know each other better over the next several years, and when it came time, Alabama was the only school I even applied to or visited. There was no question of where I wanted to go.
Dr. Strong helped me every step of the way. We were able to pre-register for classes before the rest of the student body. So, I got the exact schedule I wanted the entire time I was there – afternoons and Fridays off to ski. On Wednesday nights I would go out to his house on Lake Tuscaloosa, ski with him and the boys, and Miss Pam would cook us dinner. We would work out several days of the week and have lunch after. I never owned a computer in college, so I typed all of my papers in his office. When I needed brakes on my truck, he told me to just get the parts, bring it to the house, and he would show me how to do it. The list of things that he helped me with is infinite. He did all of this expecting nothing in return, he just genuinely wanted to help me. I can’t think of a better example of a coach, faculty advisor, mentor, friend, family man, you name it.
Several years ago I made a New Year’s resolution to call someone each month that had greatly impacted my life. Dr. Strong was my January call. I don’t think I need to say much more than that. Thank you for everything Doc. I am a better man for knowing you.”
I think it’s fitting that Travis plans to host the Syndicate Waterskis 2020 Collegiate Nationals tournament this year. While I wish Dr. Strong was able to be there, I think he will be smiling down on The Boarding School, knowing that his legacy lives on, and his influence is deeply appreciated.
I could go on and on about Doc, but if you asked me about him today, I think my response would be summed up to this. His love of the University of Alabama was like most – Passionate. His attitude towards the sport of waterskiing was like many – Committed. But his devotion to those who came to ski for UA was unique, he took in each skier as if they were truly his own – Paternal. Passionate, Committed, Paternal. These are my favorite adjectives to describe the PHENOMENAL man that was Dr. Tom Strong.
- Ski Strong for Doc - July 13, 2020
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