UFH: Thomas Dale Nader

[Ken Patton]

For those of you who don't know the hard-working Mr. Nader, he is the leftmost guy in the picture there.

Whoever nominated Tom for this great honor is right on. Tom has done so much for so many of the Detroit-area GM teams over the years.

When you look at some of the off-season competitions and wonder why there is such a great "Detroit turnout," I'd say one big reason is Tom and his willingness to make the incredible Team #67 machine work. I have lost count of the number of times that Tom has driven our stuff (robot, controls, spare parts, display boards, etc.) to Houston, Kokomo, Mountain Home, Indianapolis. He does these sorts of things while acting like its no big deal.

It is a big deal.

Two weeks after Nationals if you look in Tom's garage you will find stuff he is hanging onto for ~five different teams - stuff he brought back from Nationals, stuff he and his guys unloaded themselves.

Tom has cut our team in on some of the awesome fundraising connections that his team has. One year I ruined a new pair of shoes standing next to Tom selling adult beverages at the Detroit hydroplane races. Met the Hatcher brothers (they were thirsty). Tom cut us in on some great opportunities.

Not to mention the awesome coaching and overall teamwork. Have you ever been to a regional where his team didn't deliver a first-class performance?

Thanks, Tom. You deserve this and more.

Ken