Thomas Owen McCann

Thomas Owen “Thom” McCann, 82, was a resident of Pharr, Texas.  He was born July 16, 1941, in St. Cloud, MN to Marguerite (Sartell) and John Joseph McCann.  His family lived in Grand Forks, ND and Sioux City, IA.  Thom died on January 11, 2024, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen, Texas.

Thom worked for the Great Northern Railroad as a clerk in Sioux Falls, SD, and Sioux City, IA, and the Burlington and Ohio Railroad as a salesman in Omaha, Nebraska and Kansas City, MO.  After retiring from the railroad, Thom and a friend started a business called School Days Publications.  School Days printed scholastic workbooks that were sold to small town businesses, who donated the books to their local schools.

Thom was a good athlete and enjoyed playing football, basketball, and running track while in school.  He continued to play fast-pitch softball and racquetball in his adult years.  He could be found on the tennis courts, biking, playing shuffleboard and other activities after his retirement.  He coached his son’s baseball team, his daughter’s softball team and later girls’ volleyball and softball for a local school district in Texas.  Thom was active in his local community and enjoyed playing card games, dominoes, bingo, and helping with community dances.  Thom was charismatic, quick-witted, and was at ease talking to anyone.