Tom Kane - Class of 2015

Tom Kane, was born to Raymond James and Laura E. Kane of Rapid City, South Dakota.  The family moved to Idaho in 1938, first to Clark Fork, then Sandpoint, Spirit Lake and in 1945 to Coeur d’Alene.  Tom has an older sister, Carol, 3 younger brothers – Tim, Terry and Mike (deceased) and a younger sister, Colleen.

Tom graduated from IHM Academy in 1954 where he was very active in all sports and served as student body president.  He went on to the University of Notre Dame and played on the freshman “hamburger squad,” as it was known in 1954, and on the varsity in 1955 as a guard and linebacker. (No face masks yet!)  He returned to Coeur d’Alene and attended NIC while rehabilitating a knee injury.

He received a scholarship to the University of Montana, but his athletic aspirations were “short lived,” with another career-ending injury.

Tom received his BA in communications and was given the honor of addressing his fellow graduates at the traditional banquet on the eve prior to graduation.

Graduate school was cut short, due to the passing of his father.  He returned home and activated the real estate license he had acquired his junior year.

Not ready to give up his love of sports, he volunteered as a line coach at his old high school.

Later, encouraged by one of his high school coaches Glen Butler, who was now the principal at Rathdrum, to apply for a coaching position – he did—and thus began one of the most rewarding chapters of his life.  He coached Lakeland’s first undefeated football team in 1962, and throughout his coaching career at Lakeland, his overall win record was about 80 percent.  He was awarded Coach of the Year and Team of the Year at the very first North Idaho Sports Banquet ever.

Tom credits the success of his teams to fantastic community support, excellent assistant coaches and kids who were willing to work incredibly hard.

In addition to coaching, Tom taught English, Speech, Drama, Journalism and coached a very competitive declamation team that competed throughout the state in various speaking and acting contests.

Tom and his wife, Mary Lou (now deceased), had 3 sons, Jim, Justin and John (now also deceased); 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

After coaching, Tom became a real estate broker/owner with several offices.

Now, it’s the delight of “taking in” grandkid’s “stuff,” plus hunting, fishing and camping with family and best friend, Marilyn Bagley.