Thomas M. McClure, 58
October 19, 2011
A celebration of life memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Oct. 21 in the Riverside High School multi-purpose room for longtime Riverside School District teacher Thomas M. McClure, 58, who passed away on Sept. 25.
Born on Nov. 28, 1952, in Casper, Wy., to the late Harold M. McClure and Lorraine M. Hartman, he attended Tracy Joint Union High School in Tracy, Calif., and graduated in 1970. He was quarterback and captain of the football team and also an outstanding wrestler. He won the Tracy Booster Club and Teachers Education School awards in high school.
He continued wrestling through college placing third and second in tournaments for California State Junior College and the EVCO conference of the NAIA.
After high school, he graduated from San Joaquin Delta College, Stockton, Calif., with an associate’s degree and on the dean's list then obtained his teaching degree at Southern State at Medford, Ore. He later earned his masters' degree.
Mr. McClure first taught at Hermiston, Ore. high school 1976-77, then at Boise, Idaho, in 1977-78 where he taught math and was head coach. In August 1981, he began teaching at Riverside High School and was teaching at Riverside Junior High just prior to his death.
Teaching was his first love and he loved his students, developing friendships beyond high school graduation with many.
Mr. McClure had a reputation for making learning fun yet gained respect from most students. In addition to high school and junior high he taught adult GED classes, wrote school curriculum, taught the Ropes Program and rock climbing and led “Landmark” study groups.
He also launched and taught a wrestling program for elementary school children in Tracy, a program which continues today.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Harold and Charles; and a nephew, James Vance.
Tom is survived by two sisters, Donna Harp and Phyllis Vance; his ex-wife, Mary McClure; five nephews; six nieces; and many great-nephews and great-nieces.
