In loving memory of Thomas Hines Jr. - Obituary Baldwin Brothers

Obituary

Thomas Washington Hines, Jr. was born in Jackson Mississippi on June 9, 1938. His father was an amazing pool player who would frequent the pool halls of the time and challenge players knowing they would clearly lose. Tom attended the US Naval Academy and did well. He attended John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s inauguration celebration as a naval cadet. In 1961, he graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Following his graduation, he served active duty in Da Nang, Vietnam as security officer. There he witnessed the true horror of war. He learned the local language and worked collaboratively with the local society to make the best of the situation.

After returning to the states, in 1972, he became the asst. superintendant at Florida Power and Light. He remained with the company for 20 years and was one of the proudest positive employees. He regularly spoke publicly about the technology and thinking that the organization proposed.

In the early 70s, he met the love of his life at a pool party at his apartment complex. Amy Noles scolded him for bringing a glass container onto the pool deck. Something sparked between the two of them and they married on August 16, 1974. Both had been married previously, but this was a love that would last a lifetime.

One of Tom’s personal accomplishments was to be the Central Florida campaign manager for Ross Perot’s Presidential campaign. He and Amy worked tirelessly to bring visibility to the unique character, Mr. Perot. While the candidate did not win, the team behind him remained committed to his vision.

After leaving FP&L, Tom pursued a real estate career. From 1994 – 1999 he worked for Prudential real estate and used his savvy salesmanship to help buyers achieve their goals.

In 1999, he officially retired. While his relationship with Amy had ups and downs, they became each other’s best friends and were inseparable. They lived in the home that Amy purchased on Wilkinson St. but always hoped to return to the Park Lake Circle home that they loved. Both Tom and Amy dedicated theirs lives to their friends and their beautiful dogs. They will be sorely missed.