Thomas Joseph Whelan III, 61, died unexpectedly at his home in Richmond, Texas, on Thursday, February 8th.  Better known by his family as Tommy, he was born January 29, 1957 in Denver, Colorado.  His parents, Thomas Jr. and Patricia Whelan would later move to Wichita Falls where Tommy graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1975, and then from Midwestern State University in 1979.  At Notre Dame, Tommy was active in the Boy Scouts, played soccer, and loved playing in the high school band.

At MSU, Tommy’s major was radiologic technology and he was recognized with the Mallinckrodt Award for scholastic excellence and also was the recipient of the Carter McGregor Health Science scholarship.  He would later join as a associate faculty member while at the same time participating the Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Music fraternity where he served as treasurer.

Tommy loved adventure and camping, spelunking, sky diving.  He was a licensed pilot and flew himself to many speaking engagements.  This all worked in his favor with his love for science, travel, and educating others.  Several times his expertise took him to Central America on “Mercy” trips teaching others about the equipment they needed in sonography.  He was sought after as an educator in the fields of echocardiography, abdominal OBGYN, vascular ultrasound, emergency medicine and critical care ultrasound from different parts of the world including Egypt, China, Qatar, Arabia and he even taught at Harvard.  Currently he was employed as a ultra-sonographer for AMN Health Services.

Tommy is survived by his wife, Jennifer whom he married in Athens, Texas, and one son, Trevor Joseph Whelan.  His mother Patricia Disheroon and step-dad, John, and his step-mother, Annie Whelan all live in Wichita Falls.  He was preceded in death by his brothers, Grady and Michael, one sister Susan Marie and his grandparents Grady and Marie Cantrell, and also his father who died just a month ago.

The funeral liturgy will be celebrated Saturday, March 3, 2018 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Chapel at 11:30 a.m. with Deacon Jim Bindel as celebrant.

The family has requested that memorials be made to the Notre Dame High School Band.