Tom D. Stebbins passed away December 6, 2015 at KU Medical Center in Kansas City after a courageous 21 month battle with lymphoma. Tom’s fighting spirit was an inspiration to many, including others battling cancer who were staying at the Hope Lodge.

Tom was born in Emporia and graduated from Emporia High School and also took classes at the Flint Hills Technical College.

In 1979, he married his high school sweetheart, Jackie, and the couple was blessed with two children, Jason and Jerica.

Early on he worked at American Electric and IBP, Inc. He was hired by Menu Foods in 1998 as the new plant was being constructed. He enjoyed his work there and developed many friendships. Tom was also an entrepreneur and had owned and operated Kansas Generators LLC. He served as Advisory Board president at the Flint Hills Technical College from 2008-2012.

Tom was an avid golfer who enjoyed golfing with friends at local courses and during his yearly trip to Las Vegas. He, along with Shayne Bell played key roles in planning Emporia’s annual “East Side Manufactures Golf Tournament” for Emporia manufacturers.

After Tom’s passing in 2015, this annual tournament developed into the Tom Stebbins Memorial Golf Tournament we know today. Many of our manufacturing partners & vendors donate door prizes or money every year with as many as 34 teams participating in the tournament annually. Through the years over $40,000 has been contributed for the FHTC Tom Stebbins Memorial Scholarship fund! With these proceeds, enough money has been raised to endow two Industrial Engineering Technology scholarships at Flint Hills Technical College.

Tom was a devoted friend and loving husband but aside from being a dad, one of his biggest joys was being a grandpa.

We miss you, Tom!