July 2015 - Rockmont Alumni

Tom Bailey aka..Smiling Salmon… is best remembered as the 80’s era tribal director that clearly spent a lot of time in the weight room. However, it turns out his mind was equally conditioned. Tom is currently a Professor of English at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania. He is also a published author. Like most fathers, he is more interested in bragging on his kids than himself. Click on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V31VwPrujEQ&feature=youtu.be to see his son performing a song written by Tom.

My first summer at Rockmont (1973), I was counselor of cabin 12. I believe Tom was in my cabin that year. Here we are at Mt Mitchell. That is me on the front row with the grey cap and Tom on the top row, 5 from the left:

Here is Tom as a Tribal Director in the 80’s:

Rockmont has lost a beloved member of the camp family. Paul Craft…aka..Little Chief Flying Eagle..was a camper from 1977-1981 and on staff from 1982-1986. Paul was one of a very few to have earned the honor of Rockmont “100 pt. man”. Paul will live on in the Rockmont Hall of Fame! Please see his obituary below:

Paul C. Craft, jr.

March 3, 1966 – October 23, 2014

Paul Charles Craft, Jr. March 3, 1966 – October 23, 2014 Paul Charles Craft, Jr., 48, Memphis, died Thursday, October 23, 2014, after a courageous battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Paul was graduated from Briarcrest Christian School before attending the University of Mississippi, from where he was graduated in 1988 and a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He spent his professional career in private wealth management. Most recently, he served as the Area Wealth Executive at Regions Bank. Actively involved with Second Presbyterian Church, the University Club of Memphis, the Mystic Society of the Memphi, and Chrysalis, Paul also loved to snow ski and spend almost every summer weekend at Pickwick Lake with family and friends. Anyone who knew Paul knew how much he loved to laugh and how important his family was to him. His children were the light of his life. He had a big heart, a great smile, a wonderful sense of humor, and a generous soul. A loving husband, father, son, and uncle, Paul is survived by his wife Holly Walters Craft of Memphis, Tennessee; children: Collin Craft and Katie Anne Craft of Memphis, Tennessee, and Mary Shields Craft of Oxford, Mississippi; his mother and step-father: Anne Heuer and J. Bayard Snowden, III of Memphis, Tennessee; his brothers and sister: Robert Bogardus Snowden (Mary Alice), Alexander Heuer Snowden, John Bayard Snowden, IV (Michelle), Kathryn Snowden Foster (Walter) all of Memphis, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his father, Paul Charles Craft, Sr. A memorial service for Paul will be held on Monday, October 27 at 12 p.m. in the sanctuary of Second Presbyterian Church, Memphis.

Tom Bailey…Where is he now?

Paul Craft jr