UFH: Thomas Dale Nader

[CD47-Bot]

Thread created automatically to discuss UFH Honoree: Thomas Dale Nader.



Name: Thomas Dale Nader
Date Honored: 10-31-2003
Years involved w/FIRST: 6
FIRST Team(s): General Motors Milford Proving Ground &, Huron Valley Schools (0067)
Role: Coach and Driver
Quote: "Set screws inhale audibly." - Woodie Flowers
Bio: Thomas Nader has spent six years in FIRST, dedicating his mentoring (and driving skills) for the H.O.T. Team, #67. Tom is from Milford, Michigan, where he does electromagnetic compatibility testing for General Motors. Tom has been drive team coach, booster club president, H.O.T. truck driver, playing field builder, and self described ‘finder of everything for the team’.

Tom is a enthusiastic member of FIRST, becoming very involved in the H.O.T. team and the game. One of his favorite memories comes from Ladder Logic. “Harper College, last match before the finals. The last ball in the goal was only half in, not over half in the goal. After many minutes of waiting, the refs said ‘no goal’ for the last ball. That sent us home early, and I was biting off my lower lip. My fellow team members stood up and cheered the refs’ call that put us out of the finals, [for the sake of] sportsmanship! This was the lesson that my fellow team members have to me. Thank you H.O.T. Team!!!”

Tom lists his accomplishments as “Many Regional victories, Scores of technical Awards, Teams helping teams HOT truck to move equipment of other teams around this GREAT country of ours, Getting more team members into an engineering career, having both of my son’s on the Team, Starting up new teams.”

Tom also gives us some advice for fellow FIRSTers: “Remember why we are here…These young people need us and we need them. For without these young people we will be doomed to a life without inventors, scientist, engineers, and leaders. The job we do today will not be know for many years to come, but when it does come stand proud and say I was there, I was in F.I.R.S.T. I made a difference and helped make true Heroes of Tomorrow.”

Congratulations to Tom Nader of the H.O.T. Team, #67. You are a valuable contribution to the FIRST community.


Nominated By: Beth Sweet

[Amanda Morrison]

Congratulations to Tom Nader for being our seventh Unsung FIRST Hero. Your honor is well deserved.

[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

[Joe Johnson]

Tom is on my short list of top drawer FIRST folks as well.

I raise a glass to this forum generally and to Tom in particular.

To TOM!

Here Here.

Joe J.

[Beth Sweet]

Congratulations Mr. Nader! Sorry, gotta call mentors Mr. Just wanted to let the world know about all of the things that Mr. Nader does for our team. He has driven our "HOT Truck" the equivelent of 6 times around the world, including all the way down to Houston last year, he is at every single event that we ever do, he shuttles the robot around to all of our senior picture and graduation parties and somehow finds time in all of this to be our drive coach, and an incredible mentor. I mean, this guy does so much for our team and the Detroit FIRST community in whole. It's just so awesome that this man is getting recognition for everything he does. Thank you so much for recognizing him!

[dman9385]

Congrats Tom. I've known Tom now for about 4 years. He's the greatest guy you can meet. When I joined the team he took me to his side and guided me along. Tom IS the heart of Team #67. He helps ANYONE out even if it is out of his way. I graduated last year, and he's helping me get in with Howell's new team to be a mentour. The only thing I want to do there is be a person like Tom was to me and everyone else.

[Alexander McGee]

Mr. Nader,
Congradulations!!!!!

You are a wonderful friend, and a wonderful FIRST hero. Thank you for all of your help with our team, as well as our fundraising at Ford Field. I look forward to congradulating you in person. See you then!

-Alex

[Dave Verbrugge]

Congratulations Tom!
Well deserved!

First, thanks to Bethy Sweet of Team 67 for nominating Tom.

I second all that has already been stated about Tom, and would like to add a few more items.

Tom has not only served as a mentor on the HOT team since 1998, he also serves the Village of Milford as a Councilman, and he served his country in the United States Marine Corps. He is a member of Milford Presbyterian Church.

Tom does in fact transport the HOTBOT and everything else he can stuff into the HOT truck for other teams. That truck has logged over 35,000 miles in support of FIRST and its' mission.

He also transported the 2003 HOTBOT to the graduation parties of each Senior on the team that requested it, and also to each Junior team member that wanted the HOTBOT in their graduation pictures. Most often he used his personal truck to do that.

As stated in an earlier thread, it is a family affair. Tom's two sons have been on the team. That's not too uncommon, but how many of you can say they also have their 70+ year old mother serving as a volunteer at multiple regionals and even traveling to the Championship Event to serve as a volunteer ! (Thanks Edith, you raised this boy right!)

I don't think there is anything the Team or FIRST has asked of Tom that he has not delivered on to the best of his ability. Team 67 has truly been BLESSED through the years with many wonderful students, teachers and mentors. We are a team that has enjoyed much success and that success begins with a pride that is internal to the team and hopefully flows outward to our local community and the FIRST community. Tom is a cornerstone in making this all happen.

Tom - Congratulations!

Sincerely,
Dave Verbrugge

[Andy Baker]

I'd like to share a story about Tom:

This story takes place during the 2000 IRI, in Kokomo. It was the final round of the competition. The HOT team was in the finals, paired with Truck Town Thunder, I believe. They were going against an alliance led by team #1, Juggernaut.

As usual, Tom was the field coach for the HOT team. You would probably recognize Tom with his face painted as he enthusiastically led the drive team.

Tensions were high, as this was the final round. The competition started to get rough and alot of blocking and battling was taking place. Juggernaut got caught under the goal as they were trying to block the HOTBOT from scoring. As Juggy got itself free, it pushed up from the bottom of the goal and moved the pipe structure a bit.

The match ensues and T^3 goes for the chin-up bar to get 10 points. If they get on the bar and pull up, they will win the match. Once they grab the bar and pull, the bar falls out of the Kee-Klamp fitting and falls down. A few seconds later, the match is over.

I was head ref. Myself and the other referees decided to re-run the match due to the chin-up bar falling off. The fact that the chin-up bar fell off could've been due to the lifting action that Juggy did to free themselves, but we had no idea what caused it. We decided to re-run the match.

So, I go over to the 67-68 alliance station and tell the drive teams that we are re-running the match. They are not happy, as they want Juggy DQ'ed for moving the goal. I explained that we are not DQing Juggernaut and we are replaying the match. Team 67's drivers continued with the arguement, pushing the issue further with me. Here is where Tom stepped in.

Tom put his hand on the shoulder of the driver arguing with me and said "what did the referee say?". The student said "he wants to replay the match." Tom replied: "then that is what we are doing." Simple as that. He didn't yell at the student... he simply gave him some direction.

At that point, the entire drive team of HOT shook my hand and said nothing. I knew that they were not happy. However, they had so much respect for Tom that they took his direction without wavering one bit. It was one of those moments where you see complete respect from a student for an adult.

Obviously, Tom has earned that respect from his teammates. As a fellow engineer, competitor, and friend, I also have great respect for Tom. I'm sure glad that he's a part of FIRST.

Andy B.

[Mark Garver]

As a member of the Truck Town Thunder, now going on 6 years, and having the opportunity to be pit side with team 67, Tom is one of those people that you never forget and look forward to seeing at each and every competition.

Over the past year I have gotten to know Nader better and better. From the scouting expeditions in Cleveland, to the visit he paid me at college. Tom truly cares about inspiring people, not only kids. Even while watching a Great U of M game, he is willing to take time to talk strategy, along with what he hopes the game is like in the up coming season.

I have had the opportunity to work at General Motors during the summer for the past few years now. During these summer internships, Tom is always calling to see how things are going and to see if I want to go Hectors and Jimmy's for lunch.

You couldn't ask for a much more committed guy to help any robotics team.

Mark

[lnader]

I love my daddy!!