Windward Group Gives Tom Trace Founders Award

Tom Trace received the annual Founders Award from the Windward Association of Retired Men (WARM) for his “exceptional service to our organization and to the citizens of our community.”  The award was presented by Paul Barrow, WARM Coordinator for the current year, at the weekly breakfast meeting of the organization at the Artuzzi’s Italian Kitchen restaurant in Alpharetta.

According to Barrow, “Tom Trace has served as a bridge between WARM and the North Fulton community. As liaison with North Fulton Community Charities, Tom supervised and scheduled more than a dozen WARM volunteers who regularly collected surplus food from local grocery stores and delivered it to NFCC, which is a non-profit agency dedicated to preventing homelessness.

“As speaker coordinator for the past four years, Tom has brought many outstanding government, private sector, political and community leaders to address WARM members.  These presentations have educated us and enriched our lives.” 

Barrow noted, “WARM is much more than a breakfast club.  Members share a desire to support each other and to help our community.  Tom Trace exemplifies that sprit.”

Trace joined WARM in 2001, two years after retiring as President of Palm Coast Utility Company in Florida and moving to Windward.  From 1958 to 1983, Trace served in the US Air Force as a communications-electronics officer, with assignments in many posts throughout the world.  He retired from the Air Force as a Colonel where his final assignment was Deputy Director Plans and Programs for the Defense Communications Agency.

Trace said, “Membership in WARM has given me a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the improvement of our community and to the enrichment of our membership.  I have always sought to make our meetings informative and stimulating. To further WARM’s support of local charitable organizations is a great privilege.  WARM members have given so much over the years while having fun in the process.  It really is a great group of service-oriented men.”

Trace has a B.A from the University of Notre Dame and a Masters of Public Administration from Auburn University.

Previous Founder Award recipients are Don Blaine, Travis Mills, Jim Matoney, Bob O’Hagan, Rich Sickeler, Bill McKnight, Marty Blickstein, Tom Evans, Tom Rice, Bob Francis and Ron Keipper.

WARM is a voluntary association of current or past residents of Windward who are retired, or contemplating retirement some day.  In addition to its civic and charitable contributions, group members participate in a wide variety of fellowship activities including such things as canoeing and biking, theater and dinner outings, and trips to the shore and abroad. There are no dues, no officers and no age requirements, but the organization accomplishes a great deal for its members and the community.

For further information on WARM, please contact Paul Barrow at 678-339-0898.