Former AISD superintendent dies in Abilene

Former Albany superintendent and Moran student Carroll Tatom of Abilene, 93, passed away on April 2, 2023 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Tatom attended schools in the communities of Union, Putnam, and Moran, graduating from Putnam High School in 1946. He attended John Tarleton Agricultural College in 1946-47, then graduated from Daniel Baker College of Southwestern University in Brownwood, Texas, in 1950 with a degree in School Administration and Physical Education.

Carroll began his career as a teacher/coach in Colorado City, then went to Cisco before entering the U.S. Army. Following his discharge, he and his wife Elwanda moved to Wink, Texas where he served as teacher/coach.

He finished his master’s degree from HSU in 1959, and then in 1960 was named high school principal at Wink. In 1962 the family moved to McCamey where he served as high school principal until 1964. At that time he was named superintendent at Albany. He later served as superintendent in Winters (1967-74), Brady (1974-83), and Graham, where he retired in 1988.

He then was employed as a consultant for the Region 14 Education Service Center in Abilene for 12 years, fully retiring in 2000 after a career spanning 50 years of public school service.

He was an outstanding athlete, starring as a running back and defensive back at Putnam High School and Daniel Baker College, and was named to the Third Army All-Star team in 1953.

Among his survivors are sons Steve Tatom of Kingsland and Kyle Tatom of Abilene. He was preceded in death by wife Jean and son Stan.

Services were held April 7 in Abilene. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, the Noah Project, or a charity of choice. Memories may be shared at www.HamilFamilyFuneralHome.com