01 Jul 2023 Person of the Month: Lieutenant Colonel Thomas H. Speck, USA (Ret)

HOMETOWN:

I was born in Arkansas and raised in Wyoming. Home in the military was always where you were at any given moment. Conway has been our home for the past 20 years.

Family: 

My beautiful wife, Kelly, has been putting up with me for 30 years. We have three children. Libby, 28, is a Physician Assistant at CHI St. Vincent in Little Rock; Andy, 27, got his history degree and travels extensively; and Carolyn, 24, is a certified veterinary technician and manager at Horse Power Equine Rehab and Fitness in Conway.

Education: 

I graduated from Jackson Hole High School in Jackson, Wyo., in 1977. I then attended the University of Arkansas and graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural business. After I joined the military, I attended numerous military schools, including the Command and General Staff College and the Defense Intelligence College.

Professional accomplishments/honors: 

I served in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army from 1982 until 2003. I then served as an Assistant Professor of Military Science at UCA from 2003 until 2007. That year I accepted the Senior Army Instructor position at Conway High School JROTC. I served there until my retirement on June 30.

I worked my way up from enlisted to officer ranks. I worked with outstanding people at every base that were focused on mission accomplishment. Because of these people, I received various military awards, including the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, and the Public Service Commendation Medal. I was also selected by my peers as the 2012 Conway HS Co-Teacher of the Year along with 1st Sgt. Thomas North.

Why did you choose your field: 

Growing up, I never had the military or education fields on my list of things to do. God had His plans and I had mine. Guess who won?

In what ways does JROTC impact high school students: 

The Army JROTC mission is to motivate young people to be better citizens. We have tried to do just that. We give them information, training, and the tools to make their lives and that of the city, state and country better. We are not recruiters for the military, but we give advice and counsel to those students that desire that way of life. The only requirement we have for students is to come to class prepared to get better each day.

How does JROTC impact your students’ career choices after graduation? 

We have had graduates do great things in many different fields of endeavor. I try to keep up with as many of our graduates as possible, but there have been so many. We have had roughly 12 percent of our students go into one of the military services, including the military academies. We have doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and most importantly, good mothers, fathers, and citizens.

Community activities: 

I am involved with numerous veterans’ organizations like the Disabled Veterans of America, American Legion, and Patriot Guard Riders.

Most cherished possession:

A 1978 Arkansas Razorback Orange Bowl Ring and a U.S. flag that was flown over the USS Arizona Memorial.