When you meet Tommy Dismukes, you quickly understand why he has been such a steady presence at Huntingdon College and in the Montgomery community for more than three decades. A Lexington, Kentucky native who came south in 1979 with dreams of basketball and the blessing of a grandmother nearby, Tommy found his true calling in higher education—guiding generations of families through the financial aid process with kindness, integrity, and an unmistakable servant’s heart. Along the way, he’s weathered personal loss, celebrated milestones, embraced new adventures, and built a reputation as someone who lifts others up while living life fully. As he transitions into semi-retirement, Tommy reflects on faith, family, resilience, and what it really means to “age well.”
BOOM: You grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, and came to Montgomery in 1979 to play basketball at Huntingdon. What do you remember most about those early days and the decision to make Montgomery home?
Tommy: First of all, I am a very big Kentucky Wildcat fan. I attended a huge high school (Tates Creek) in Lexington. I applied to lots of big colleges, but my parents convinced me to look at Huntingdon College as a smaller school option. I loved the campus and people when I visited. Plus, I had the opportunity to play basketball, which never materialized as they canceled the program the same year I was set to enroll. I tell people jokingly that I took the Huntingdon College basketball program to another level. The other great bonus of moving to Montgomery was that my grandmother (Honey) lived in Montgomery, as this is where my dad grew up.
BOOM: After eight years in banking, you found your true calling in higher education, directing financial aid at Huntingdon. What drew you to that role, and what’s made it so rewarding over the past three decades?
Tommy: I had a fraternity brother named Paul Mittelhammer who served as the Director of Admission and Enrollment at Huntingdon. He knew that I had a strong background in Finance after graduating with a degree in Accounting. He asked me to become the Director of Financial Aid in 1991. The job suited my professional abilities and allowed me to assist hundreds and hundreds of families in helping them attend Huntingdon. In my 29+ years, I have always been involved in assisting families with financial aid matters, but have also had the opportunity to serve as the Director of Admission, the Director of the Evening Program, and the Athletic Compliance Officer. It has been very rewarding, as I do think I have made a difference in some lives.
BOOM: You’ve built a reputation for kindness, integrity, and customer service. What’s your secret to approaching people in a way that makes them feel truly supported?
Tommy: I have always liked being around other people. You learn quickly as an adult that if you treat other people with kindness and respect, then you will most often get that in return. I have always wanted people to trust me. The best way to do that is to have integrity and strive to always do the right thing and to do what you say you are going to do. In those situations where that doesn’t happen, I also think it is very important to resolve your differences as quickly as possible. The other thing that is really important is to be “on time”. Former Pastor Jay Wolf at First Baptist Church used to say that 80% of success is showing up. I think this is only true if you add ON TIME to that statement. My kids will roll their eyes on this one.
BOOM: You’ve been part of the largest incoming class at Huntingdon in 60 years — how does it feel to know you’ve played a role in that milestone?
Tommy: It is certainly a good way to end my full-time professional career. There are some talented, hardworking people in the Admission Office. But we also have excellent athletic coaches, staff, and faculty who deserve lots of credit as well. I took pride in my work and always wanted to be the best version of myself at Huntingdon. Hopefully, my colleagues felt I did my job that way, too.
BOOM: As you transition into semi-retirement with a part-time, remote role, how do you envision this next chapter of life?
Tommy: I am very excited about it. I will still try and help Huntingdon continue with their recent enrollment success. However, I want to exercise more and spend more time with my kids and their spouses. I certainly want to travel more as well. I have a very special friend who loves to travel and go see concerts. I have been able to experience a lot of new things and places these past 2+ years and certainly hope that trend continues.
BOOM: You’ve faced some deep personal losses — the passing of your father on your 18th birthday, your mother in 2014, and your wife in 2022. How have those experiences shaped your perspective on life and relationships?
Tommy: I grew up going to church, but never knew what it meant to have a relationship with Jesus. I knew faith was important, but did not understand what that truly meant until I married Kathy and started attending First Baptist Church in Montgomery in the early 1990s. I gave my life to Christ and have been a work in progress ever since. A lot of people think that once you know Jesus, everything is going to be easy. My life has not been easy, but it has certainly been better these past 30+ years. We are not promised tomorrow. God has a plan for us, even if we cannot fully understand it. Each tragic event in my life has not pushed me away from God but has helped build my faith and challenged me to live my life in a better way.
BOOM: You mentioned creating a life acronym from your mother, Polly’s name. Can you share what that stands for and how it guides you today?
Tommy: I spoke at my mom’s (Polly) funeral in 2014. She and I were very close. I used this acronym and believe it even more today.
P- Put Jesus first (and he will help set everything into motion)
O- Get your life in Order (be organized in the way you handle things)
L- Don’t be afraid to Live life (take chances and try new things)
L- Learn to Laugh (it will make life much more enjoyable)
Y- Life is not about You (it is about serving others)
BOOM: Losing your wife at just 60 brought new questions about the future. How have you found ways to keep living with purpose and positivity?
Tommy: I never thought about what it would be like to live on my own until Kathy went into hospice care in the fall of 2022. I found out quickly that I have some people who really care about me. I have two great kids, Kassie and Thomas, who are married to wonderful people, Martin and Georgia. They are all a great blessing to me. I have a little brother, Dan, and his wife, Susan, who have always loved and encouraged me. I have a great church family, and a friend named Andy Birchfield who walked each step of Kathy’s brain cancer with me. He is my Superman. These people gave and still give me purpose. What I wasn’t expecting was to reconnect with a special friend that I met in college. She has become very important to me and helps make me content. Also, many of her friends have now become good friends of mine. I am thankful every day and feel blessed to be where I am at this stage of my life despite all that has happened.
BOOM: Your kids are grown and married now. How has your role as a father evolved in this new season?
Tommy: When my kids were younger, Kathy and I pretty much directed their lives. However, we never wanted to control them as we knew it was important that they have some life experiences. I had a good dad, but he was not very involved in my life up until the time he died. I wanted something different, so I chose to be very involved with my kids’ lives and have always tried to assist them with whatever was needed. It makes me very proud to see the young adults they have become. They both know I will always be there for them if they have questions or needs. I have also learned a lot from them, too. They have helped make me a better, more caring person.
BOOM: Staying socially connected seems important to you, from your work to your involvement in the Kiwanis Club. How have those connections enriched your life?
Tommy: I need to be around people, but it is not something that consumes me. I have learned to enjoy my own time in this new season of life. I like to be around people who want to have fun, who want to laugh, who want to love, and who want to enjoy life. Life is too precious, too short, and too fragile not to embrace it. I have learned that I am best when I don’t live in the past or fixate on the future, but rather focus on the day. That is where you see the greatest blessings of life.
BOOM: You’re committed to staying active — hiking, playing pickleball, even tackling part of the Appalachian Trail. What does movement and fitness mean to you now?
Tommy: I am 63 years old now. I can look in the mirror and see it, but I don’t feel like an almost senior citizen who will draw social security in the reasonably near future. I need to be moving about as much as possible. Walking, hiking, and pickleball make me feel better and help with weight control. Plus, I love to eat good food, but must balance that with exercise each day if I want to feel good.
BOOM: Travel and adventure are clearly passions — from Crater Lake to France, and now Italy. What draws you to explore new places, and do you have a “bucket list” destination still ahead?
Tommy: I enjoy exploring new places and seeing things I have never seen before. I went to France and Switzerland this past year and loved it. We traced my family roots to Meaux, France (just outside of Paris), and it was a very special experience. We are going to Italy in September. I love to see the way other people live. Going out of the country is great, but I am also looking forward to visiting lots of other places in the United States and Canada. The Canadian Rockies and Alaska are certainly on my bucket list.
BOOM: What advice would you give someone in their 50s or 60s facing loss or a major life transition?
Tommy: I mentioned it before, but learn from and remember the past, but don’t dwell on the difficult things you have faced. Plan for the future, but don’t rush your time away. Most importantly, be kind and in the moment each day. You never know how or what you say will impact others. I want to encourage others to have a positive outlook on life.
BOOM: How do you personally define “aging well,” and what daily choices help you live that out?
Tommy: By not looking at the mirror each day….LOL. Strive to be the best version of yourself. God created us all equally but gave each of us different gifts. It is important to try and be healthy, to let your friends and family know that you care and love them, and attempt to serve others in a meaningful way.
BOOM: Looking ahead, what’s one thing you still want to learn, try, or experience that excites you about the future?
Tommy: To not be fearful as I grow older. I also want to live my life fully. I want to embrace it and take advantage of all life has to offer. I want to try and help others, specifically those people who are food insecure. There is too much abundance in our country to let that happen. My prayer for others…Numbers 6:24-26.
Rapid Fire with Tommy
- Three words friends would use to describe you? Hopefully, kind, faithful, and competitive.
- Go-to breakfast order? Oatmeal with nuts and fruit.
- Favorite book you’ve read in the last year? A Gentleman in Moscow.
- Most-used pickleball shot — forehand or backhand? A hard forehand slice.
- One song that always lifts your mood? I Can Only Imagine by Mercyme.
- Best local spot for a quiet coffee or lunch? On a porch somewhere.
- First place you’d go if you could hop on a plane tomorrow? Canadian Rockies.
- One thing you always keep in your hiking pack? Water.
- Favorite way to spend a Saturday morning? An early morning walk to see a sunrise.
- Most adventurous thing you’ve ever done? As a new hiker in 2023, I hiked many miles in North Cascades National Park in the state of Washington.
We want to thank Tommy for sharing his story with us this month. If you have comments or suggestions about our cover profiles, including nominating someone, please text Jason Watson at 334.328.5189 or email jason@riverregionboom.com.