May 13, 2005
The Saint Mary's College community is saddened by the loss of Tom Foudy '35, who died this past weekend. Foudy was the media publicist for the Saint Mary's football team and Slip Madigan during the 1930s, and considered by many the last link to Slip Madigan's football teams. Funeral services for Foudy are schedule for Monday, May 16th, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. at St Hillary's Church, 761 Hilary Dr., Tiburon, CA, 94920.
Most knew that Tom is part of the mosaic that made Saint Mary's College such a colorful place in the 1930's. Tom's place in College lore has been documented in "When Pride Still Mattered," the story of Vince Lombardi by David Maraniss, and "They Did it Every Time," By J. Randall Andrada.
Tom's father had attended a Christian Brothers School in Ireland before immigrating to Trinidad, Colorado where Tom was born. Brother Agnon recruited Tom to Saint Mary's College in California. He was the first student to attend from Colorado. Fourteen young men from Trinidad would eventually follow Tom and enroll at Saint Mary's.
Soon after arriving at Saint Mary's, Tom joined the Athletic News Bureau. Tom served as a campus correspondent for the Oakland Tribune and the Oakland Post Enquirer. It was at this time Tom met "The most impressive individual I have ever met," the great Gael Coach, Edward P. "Slip" Madigan. "Slip was a fearless, dynamic individual, who possessed an impressive memory and was loved by his players." Tom remembers from his freshmen year, the excitement Slip's football team would create when they traveled to Fordham University for an intercontinental football contest. To celebrate the victory over Fordham, a huge parade marched from San Francisco's Ferry Building to City Hall. Will Stevens, Slip's press agent at the time, became a mentor to Tom. Will, whom Tom called "The best press agent Saint Mary's ever had," taught Tom how to generate publicity.
After some setbacks due to the Great Depression, Tom graduated in 1935. It was a great honor for him to follow Will Stevens as Slip Madigan's publicity agent. By this time Slip was a nationally known celebrity and Saint Mary's College was known for fielding powerful football teams. Tom's "baptism by fire" began when he had to respond to a news story about Jim Austin (Tight End) and Jean Harlow (Movie Star). Jim had been working for MGM as a stagehand during his summer vacation. The press was saying the two had been secretly dating. The story was not true; however, the press had a field day. College President, Brother Albert Rahill and Slip Madigan continually responded to questions, which persisted for the entire season. Although Tom joined the team on their now famous annual train trips to Fordham University, he did serve as the press advance man.
By 1939 the world was changing. The world's attention turned to the budding war in Europe and Asia. Attendance was down at the Fordham game in 1939. Slip Madigan was to host his last football contest as coach. On this day, Tom Foudy received a telegram delivered from John Warner of Warner Brother's Pictures. The letter read, "Congratulations on the job you are doing, perhaps you would like to come to work for us." Slip told Tom the letter was most likely a "ticket gag," an attempt by an imposter to get free Fordham tickets. Tom followed up with the offer and began a six-year career with Warner Brothers.
As the years passed Tom served in the United States Navy as an aviation radioman and was injured during World War II in England while returning from an operational flight when the airplane's landing gear would not properly eject. He enjoyed a 30-year career with the California Department of Motor Vehicles, stayed loyal to the Catholic Church, and to his delight, married Betty at the age of 39. Tom and his late wife Betty remembered Saint Mary's College in their estate plan and donated their house to establish an endowment at Saint Mary's College to fund the Tom Foudy Chair in Communications.
Tom loved to tell stories about his days at Saint Mary's College, which began 72 years ago. He is truly part of the rich history that makes Saint Mary's such a special place.
