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TomHapgood.com

Interesting relatives:

My family is the most important element of my life. This includes my many ancestors, my parents and sisters, extended family, as well as my wife and four daughters. I’m most grateful to my parents Thom and Barbara who spent so much time with us on schooling, sports, family nights, family canoe floats on the river, games, church, and maintaining a career to support ourselves.

Ancestors

One of my favorite pastimes is doing genealogy/family history research on my ancestors, with anyone from Shadrach Hapgood, the first Hapgood to land on these American shores on July 27, 1656 aboard the Speedwell, to all kinds of interesting people. We are all so much more related than we think, I believe. Through the apps listed below, I have found interesting connections to a huge range of people such as Emily Dickinson (5th Cousin 2 times removed), Winston Churchill (9th Cousin 1 time removed), Henrietta Lacks (10th Cousin 2 times removed), John Adams (3rd Cousin 8 times removed), Gus Grissom (6th Cousin), Edward IV King of England (14th Great Grandfather), Amelia Earhart (9th cousin), James IV King of Scotland (14th Great Grandfather), Muhammad Ali (14th Cousin). How do I know all of this? Two steps: Sign up for Family Search and enter your parents and grandparents (birth/death/places) and then go to RelativeFinder and see all kinds of interesting ancestors that we all have.

Karlsruhe

How could I ever summarize my five years living in Karlsruhe, West Germany? All the things I did then… I attended three years at this Department of Defense Dependent School in Karlsruhe, (West) Germany, along with other American students. My education and formative years were enriched immeasurably by great field trips to places such as the Maginot line, medieval castles, battlefields and cemeteries such as Verdun and Bastogne, the Gutenberg press in Mainz, skiing in places such as Garmisch and Saas Fee, Switzerland, hiking in the alps, Spring Break in Majorca, river rafting in Austria, and much much more.

A summary of the 1980s in one photograph: Tom at the Berlin Wall in 1989 Photograph of Tom in the battlements of Caerphilly Castle, 1986

My favorite person and favorite view, at an FHS football game.

My favorite person and favorite view, at a Fayetteville HS football game.

My favorite person and favorite view, at a Fayetteville HS football game.

A letter from Dr. Seuss to my Great Aunt Doris

A letter from Dr. Seuss to my Great Aunt Doris, a clue why my family loves silly words and puns

A letter from Dr. Seuss to my Great Aunt Doris, a clue why my family loves silly words and puns

Avant-Garde Great Aunt Marie

Avant-Garde Great Aunt Marie's song about becoming an actress

Avant-Garde Great Aunt Marie's song about becoming an actress

Skiing Saas-Fee, Switzerland. Just so cool in 1988.

Skiing Saas-Fee, Switzerland. Too cool for the alps, and really everything in 1988.

Skiing Saas-Fee, Switzerland. Too cool for the alps, and really everything in 1988.

Jogging through Shamrock, TX, at the famous Art Deco gas station

Jogging through Shamrock, TX, at that Art Deco gas station. Such history in that place. And face.

Jogging through Shamrock, TX, at that Art Deco gas station. Such history in that place. And face.

Hapgood Familly coat of arms and hand lettering

The Hapgood Family coat of arms and cool hand-done Blackletter typeface.

The Hapgood Family coat of arms and cool hand-done Blackletter typeface.

We go here every Memorial Day.

We visit the Fayetteville National Cemetery every Memorial Day to honor these great men and women.

We visit the Fayetteville National Cemetery every Memorial Day to honor these great men and women.

Dad and I kayaking in San Carlos, Mexico

Dad and I kayaking in San Carlos, Mexico, a favorite family destination

Dad and I kayaking in San Carlos, Mexico, a favorite family destination

And then you find yourself in the middle of High School Colors Day

And then you find yourself in the middle of High School Colors Day

And then you find yourself in the middle of High School Colors Day

A painting of Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples by great grandmother Emma Layley

A painting of Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples by great grandmother Emma Layley in 1886.

A painting of Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples by great grandmother Emma Layley in 1886.

Tom and daughter on FHS Homecoming football field

Proud of my sweet daughter at Homecoming on my favorite sports field at FHS in Fayetteville.

Proud of my sweet daughter at Homecoming on my favorite sports field at FHS in Fayetteville.

Jumping into a river in Jamaica from thousands of feet in the air.

Jumping into a river in Jamaica from hundreds and hundreds of inches in the air.

Jumping into a river in Jamaica from hundreds and hundreds of inches in the air.

Ancestors, to whom I owe much

It is certainly desirable to be well descended, but the glory belongs to our ancestors ~ Plutarch

It is certainly desirable to be well descended, but the glory belongs to our ancestors ~ Plutarch

The best way to tour Crystal Bridges.

The best way to tour Crystal Bridges, with the loveliest lady in arm.

The best way to tour Crystal Bridges, with the loveliest lady in arm.

One day a Peeps car pulled into a nearby driveway, and life changed.

Peeps are always in season and are always there for you, even appearing when you least expect.

Peeps are always in season and are always there for you, even appearing when you least expect.

Where I roamed. My Honda motorcycle in Arizona with open desert

The open range where I roamed. My Honda motorcycle in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona

The open range where I roamed. My Honda motorcycle in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona