Tom played football, served as treasurer of his senior class and acted in a class play while at Villisca High School. After graduating, he regularly attended and usually organized his class reunions.
Staying close to his roots, Tom farmed the family farm and met his future bride in the halls of VHS when he was introduced to the new home economics teacher. He became a highly respected mechanic at a local implement dealership while still farming. When the dealership closed, he operated Villisca Insurance Agency until he retired at age 75.
Tom served the Villisca community and his school in many ways, including as a director of Villisca Alumni & Friends Association, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce for over 20 years, president and other offices for the Villisca Lions Club and as a member of Optimists. An active supporter of VHS athletics, he parked cars at football games into his 80s. He was an avid volunteer, organizing and cooking for many fundraising dinners, delivering Meals on Wheels, shooting off July 4th fireworks at the football field, working on local yard and garden projects and city beautification efforts as well as preserving Villisca’s heritage through photography and video. He helped neighbors with gardening and snow removal and trips to the hospital as needed. Tom was an advocate of buying locally in Villisca to support local businesses.
Tom Focht, a 2013 member of Villisca Bluejay Hall of Fame, died in 2011.