Thomas “Tom” Wells

Thomas D. Wells died at home on May 24, 2026, with his loving wife, Lori, by his side. In the weeks and hours leading to his death, he was visited by a continuous stream of family and friends.

Tom was a wonderful man who loved his wife, his children, and grandchildren. He was a teacher, a coach, a runner, a reader, an author, and a friend to many. He laughed easily and made others laugh. He was a kind and considerate man who advocated for the environment, humane treatment of animals, and social justice. He believed everyone should be treated respectfully. He cared about people and what they thought. He was a teacher who learned something from everyone he knew.

Tom was born in Royal Oaks, Michigan, on April 19, 1947, to Nelda and John A. Wells, Sr. Tom and his older brother, John, spent most of their formative years in Luling, Texas. The family moved to Rockport for two years and then returned to Luling.

During his teen years, Tom worked various jobs in Luling. He was a soda jerk, pitched watermelons, and worked for an oil field service company.

Tom graduated from Luling High School. As a Luling Eagle, he played sports and was elected class president. Tom continued his education at the University of Texas, at Austin, graduating with a bachelor’s degree. He then earned his master’s degree from Southwest Texas State University, in San Marcos, Texas.

Tom spent approximately 9 years teaching and coaching at various public schools. At the end of this time, he was a high school principal. His career plan shifted after a school board member interrupted his afternoon with her plan to oust the district’s superintendent. Tom decided that he wanted no part of school politics.

A new phase began for Tom. He applied to Texas A&M University and was accepted into the exercise physiology, doctoral program. After the successful defense of his dissertation on the effects of sunscreen upon thermoregulation during exercise, he earned his PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in 1982.

Tom briefly worked at the Cooper Aerobic Center in Plano, Texas, and decided that a better life could be found elsewhere. In July 1983, Tom and his family moved to Kerrville, Texas. Tom spent the next thirty years at Scheiner University where he took on multiple roles. He coached the women’s basketball team for 12 years. He served as athletic director, and under his leadership, Schreiner was among the first universities to make an important change. The women’s team was no longer the Lady Mountaineers. Instead, all teams were Mountaineers.

During Tom’s 30-year career at Schreiner University, he also served as the Provost / Vice-President for Academic Affairs for two years and then returned to teaching. He was an excellent speaker and taught a variety of courses. In addition to exercise science, he also expanded to teaching courses on global issues. He wrote, “My major goal in higher education is to challenge students to keep an open mind while using a critical ear and eye.” Tom also applied this goal to himself. He was an avid reader and spent his life learning.

Throughout his life, Tom has filled many roles and touched many lives. He learned everyone’s name and went out of his way to acknowledge others. Many in the Kerrville area have encountered him at different phases of his life and in different roles.

For many, he was “Coach”, even to those who never picked up basketball. At Mamacita’s he was greeted with “Hey, it’s Coach!” and all knew he was a strict vegetarian. Although he was officially the coach of the Mountaineers Women’s Basketball team for 12 years, a generation of girls played basketball through his leagues and camps.

Others met Tom through running. Others knew him from attending lectures or through his adventures with his wife, Lori, or dozens of others way. His friends and family knew him as a good man who improved us all by simply being there and letting us know we mattered. He gave selflessly and entirely to those he loved.

Tom vowed never to eat anything with a face. He cared about all animals, and labs were his favorite. He could often be found in the yard with his dog.

Tom is survived by his wife, Lori Mayles-Wells, his children, Colleen Conoley, Stacia Wells Griffith, and Rayne Noonan, their spouses, Greg Rhodes, Tyler Griffith, and Joanna Grendon-Noonan, his grand-children, Tristan Dornbusch, Jack Rhodes, Cooper Griffith, Spenser Griffith, Piper Griffith, and Robyn Grendon, his older brother John A. Wells and his wife, Tyre Wells. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, and a multitude of friends who loved him.