Thomas "Tom" Lane McBee

Thomas "Tom" Lane McBee died on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at Willard Walker Hospice Home in Fayetteville, Ark., at the age of 76. Tom was born in Mason City, Iowa, on Jan. 26, 1940 to William Robert McBee and Garnette (Volkerts) McBee. Tom is survived by his daughter, Shannon Michele McBee Ratcliff, her husband, Dr. Daniel J. Ratcliff and their children, Jonathan Beckett "Beck" Ratcliff and Gavin Eliot Ratcliff, all of Austin, Texas; his brother, William Robert McBee and wife, Dr. Sara Eileen McBee of Fayetteville, Ark.; nephew, Michael Lane McBee, wife, Mandy and sons, Preston and Parker McBee and Jackson Gilbreath of Rogers, Ark.; nephew, Stephen Thomas McBee, and wife, Natalie of Fayetteville, Ark.; and nephew, Peter Jon McBee, wife, Lori and daughter, Katie McBee of Springdale, Ark. Tom graduated from high school in Clear Lake, Iowa in 1958, was a veteran of the United States Navy, and attended The University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. He was an avid reader and channeled his passion for the written word into managing bookstores affiliated with universities. He began working at The Iowa Book & Supply Company, an independent bookstore servicing the University of Iowa in Iowa City, moved to Oregon to become Assistant Manager at the bookstore at the University of Oregon in Eugene, and then managed a private bookstore in Yakima, Wash., which serviced Central Washington University's campus in Yakima. He next managed the bookstore at Montana State University (then known as "Eastern Montana State") in Billings, Mont., before returning to his home state of Iowa. He settled in Grinnell, Iowa for the remainder of his career, where he managed the College Book Store at Grinnell College for almost thirty years. Although Tom formally retired from Grinnell College in 1998 and joined his mother, brother and family in Fayetteville, Ark., he continued to work part-time at Creative Awards, where he was lovingly nicknamed "Backroom Bubba." Tom was also a dedicated and passionate volunteer track official for the University of Arkansas for over 15 years. He was first certified as an official in 2000 and over the years worked virtually every University of Arkansas Razorback meet, as well as many others, such as the Drake Relays and the Chili Pepper Cross Country Festival. He officiated all over the country, including USATF Junior and Senior National Championships, USATF Junior Olympic National Championships, USATF Masters National Championships, NCAA National Championships, and the 2008 Olympic Trials. Tom served as head umpire and/or head marshal on many occasions and trained and mentored many new officials. Tom shared his love of books, poetry, travel, music, food, wine and craft beers, animals and track and field with all he encountered. A Celebration of Life is being planned for a later date in Fayetteville, with a private family service on the Caribbean Island of Nevis in the West Indies. Arrangements have been made by the Nelson-Berna Funeral Home & Crematory in Fayetteville, Ark. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in the name of Thomas L. McBee to the Fayetteville Public Library.