Thomas James Lloyd

Golf

Thomas “Tom” James Loyd, son of Edd and Irene Loyd, was born in Carthage on December 22, 1950. He graduated in the Top 10 Percent of his class from Carthage High School in 1968, and earned a bachelor’s degree from The University of Missouri in 1972. As the son of Carthage Municipal Park Golf Professional Edd Loyd and younger brother to golfer Steve (who also played at Mizzou), Tom learned to love the game at a young age, qualifying for the Carthage Open in 1963 at just age 12. At Carthage High School, he was a golf stand-out, winning numerous tournaments during his high school years. In 1968, Tom was named Missouri High School State Champion in Golf. At Mizzou, Tom went on to letter all four years as a member of the Golf Team from 1968 – 1972.

   While serving in the U.S. Army and stationed in Alaska, Tom won the 1974 Alaska State Amateur title. After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army in 1976, he returned to Columbia where he was the Assistant Professional and Head Professional at the Country Club of Missouri from 1977 to 1990. He was elected a PGA Professional in 1980. Tom served as the Mizzou Men’s and Women’s Assistant Coach from 1977-1997, as well as the Mizzou Women’s Golf Head Coach from 1998 until his retirement in 2001. Under Tom’s leadership, the Mizzou Women qualified for three straight NCCA Regional Tournament appearances and finished a school-best 12th at the 2001 Regional.

   Tom was inducted into the Columbia, Missouri Golf Foundation Hall of Fame in 2016. He continued to teach and play golf at the A.L. Gustin Golf Club in Columbia until the time of his death. Tom had a lasting impact on many players in Columbia and abroad as a golf coach and instructor to juniors, the men and women who played for him at Mizzou, as well as many other golf pupils through the years.

   Tom is remembered for his dry sense of humor and unflinching honesty and integrity. In addition to golf, he was an amateur photographer, lover of astronomy and friend of the environment. He passed away on March 14, 2018 and his ashes were spread at the golf course in Columbia & Carthage to honor his love of golf & the environment he loved to photograph.