Tom Judd’s passions included education, children and sharing God’s Word.
He spent 44 years in education, first teaching math and serving as assistant principal at North Vernon Junior High School and then being principal of Crothersville Junior-Senior High School and Hayden Elementary School, assistant to the superintendent for Jennings County School Corp. and superintendent for Orleans Community Schools and Medora Community School Corp.
He also was project director of high school initiatives for Ivy Tech Community College in Columbus, taught several graduate courses at Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus and was a foster grandparent at Emerson Elementary School.
Upon retirement from education, Judd became the minister at White’s Chapel United Methodist Church. Through that role, he started the Eggstra Special Easter Egg Hunt for kids with special needs.
Last month, Special Olympics Indiana Jackson County found out Judd wasn’t going to be able to do the event this year due to his health. Shortly after, the organization learned of his death March 10. He was 72.
After receiving the blessing of his family, the local Special Olympics group helped organize the Easter egg hunt so an important event he started keeps going.
Judd’s wife of 43 years, Tina Judd, said she was happy to receive the phone call about the tradition continuing.
“We appreciate it, and we certainly appreciate Special Olympics,” she said at the start of Saturday’s Tom Judd Memorial Eggstra Special Easter Egg Hunt on the playground at Emerson Elementary School in Seymour.
“He had a heart for children,” she said of her late husband. “I know he’s looking down today and he’s talking to everybody in heaven and telling them what’s going on down here and mentioning all of you by name, and I just hope you all have a very good time.”
Then the first group of kids scurried about the playground in search of colored plastic Easter eggs stuffed with candy and also golden eggs to turn in for prizes, which were donated by Tina.
A second group later took its turn hunting for eggs, and Special Olympics athletes closed the event by picking up the remaining eggs.
Becky Klosterman and Derrick Martin were among the latter group.
Klosterman said she was glad to meet Tina and thank her for donating and attending.
“I was wanting to meet her, but I never met her before until today, and it was so good to meet her. She is so sweet,” Klosterman said. “It was good to have her there in memory of Tom. I know it’s kind of hard on her thinking about him, but like she said, he’s smiling down on her, smiling down on us, thankful for us having it memory of him.”
Klosterman said it was fun to watch the kids with special participate in the event.
Martin agreed.
“My heart is happy to see the kids be there to hunt the eggs,” he said.
The Easter bunny also was at the event along with Rob and Kristye Lewis with their miniature therapy horse, Flash, from Little King Ranch Miniature Therapy Horses.
“We greatly appreciate that we were asked to attend the Easter egg hunt again this year,” Kristye said. “It is such a special event. It was so nice to be able to bring Flash to visit with all the kids after not being able to last year because of COVID. They all seemed to enjoy visiting with Flash, and I know Flash has missed the interactions with them.”
Kristye also was glad to see Tina Judd there to talk to all of the participants.
“Her husband, Tom, loved organizing this egg hunt every year, and it meant a lot to him,” Kristye said. “Thank you, Special Olympics of Jackson County, for continuing the tradition. It is very special for all the participants.”
Several Special Olympics volunteers and athletes also were there to help and ensure everyone had an “eggstra special time.”
“It’s nice for the kids because it is a smaller hunt,” said Mary Carlson, assistant county coordinator and secretary for Special Olympics Indiana Jackson County. “I was very pleased with the turnout for the hunt. It was nice to have Mrs. Judd there and just to honor Mr. Judd in general.”