In memoriam: Thomas Dodson
Former NT Daily reporter collapses at Texas Jive
Amberlee Sterling and Bryan Shettig
Issue date: 3/2/06

Thomas Ashley Dodson, 29, former NT almnus and writer for the NT Daily, died Tuesday, Feb. 28 at Presbyterian Hospital in Denton, after being transported from Texas Jive by Denton Emergency Medical Services.
His father, Barry, said the Tarrant County medical examiner's office suspected he died of an embolism but a definite cause cannot be concluded until a full toxicology report is complete.
Embolisms are caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood, causing clots to form. Although embolisms are not often fatal, they occur commonly.
Thomas, who went by Tad, was with Lindsay Huntoon, 23, at Texas Jive's karaoke contest on Monday night. Dodson had just finished singing a karaoke song and was walking back to his table when he suddenly collapsed, Huntoon said.
"It was surreal, nothing like that's ever happened here," said Chris Byrd, bartender at Texas Jive. Byrd was bartending on Monday and said Tad collapsed just after midnight. Police were already at the bar and contacted paramedics who arrived and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Huntoon said Tad, who lived in Plano, visited her in Denton often.
"He was an amazing person. Tad was about the most loyal person I ever knew, and was very honest," she said.
She said Thomas was involved in the Dallas theater scene and was nominated for a Raven award last year for sound design.
"He had a passion about doing things well," Barry said. "He put a lot of himself into whatever endeavor he was in."
Tad worked with autistic children as a special education teacher's assistant at DeWitt Perry Middle School in Carrollton.
Barry said his son worked with children that required him to foster above average attention and patience.
"He loved his kids," he said.
During fall 1998 and spring 1999, Dodson wrote for the arts and life and sports sections of the Daily.
"He was especially proud of his time at North Texas and on the journalism staff and working on staff at the paper," Barry said. "It was a point of pride with him."
Tad is survived by his parents, Barry and Judy Dodson of Carrollton, he was their only child.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 2 at Restland Funeral Home, 9220 Restland Road in Dallas. A gravesite service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, March 3 at Restland Funeral Home. Memorial services will be held for Dodson at 3:30 p.m., Friday, March 3 at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 5801 W. Plano Parkway in Plano.

NORTH TEXAS DAILY - March 2, 2006

THOMAS ASHLEY
DODSON,, THOMAS ASHLEY "TAD" Of Carrollton, born January 25, 1977 and passed away on February 28, 2006. Tad worked with special needs children in the Carrollton/ Farmers Branch School District and was active in the Dallas theatre community. He is survived by his loving parents Barry and Judy Dodson of Carrollton; Grandmother Bobbie Greenhaw of Richardson, Grandparents Tom and Ruth Dodson of Winnsboro, TX. Aunts and Uncles Debbie and Doug Bunch of Richardson and James and Debby Greenhaw of McKinney. Cousins Hayley Jones, James Scott Greenhaw, Jason Bunch, Amanda Bunch and Brian Bunch. Tad loved life and cherished his friends and his relationships with the students and staff at Dewitt Perry Middle School. Those lucky enough to be counted as Tad's friends know his was a life worth celebrating. Memorials may be made to the CFB Educational Foundation at 1445 N. Perry Rd. Carrollton, TX 75006. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 2 at Restland Funeral Home. There will be a memorial service at St Andrew United Methodist Church, 5801 West Plano Pkwy, Plano, Texas on March 3, at 3:30, Reverend Charles Stokes officiating. Restland 972-238-7111 restlandfuneralhome.com

The Dallas Morning News - March 2, 2006
Submitted by Edward Lynn Williams

The Dallas Morning News - Thursday, March 2, 2006
Submitted by Edward Lynn Williams

In memoriam: Thomas Dodson
Former NT Daily reporter collapses at Texas Jive
Amberlee Sterling and Bryan Shettig
Issue date: 3/2/06

Thomas Ashley Dodson, 29, former NT almnus and writer for the NT Daily, died Tuesday, Feb. 28 at Presbyterian Hospital in Denton, after being transported from Texas Jive by Denton Emergency Medical Services.
His father, Barry, said the Tarrant County medical examiner's office suspected he died of an embolism but a definite cause cannot be concluded until a full toxicology report is complete.
Embolisms are caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood, causing clots to form. Although embolisms are not often fatal, they occur commonly.
Thomas, who went by Tad, was with Lindsay Huntoon, 23, at Texas Jive's karaoke contest on Monday night. Dodson had just finished singing a karaoke song and was walking back to his table when he suddenly collapsed, Huntoon said.
"It was surreal, nothing like that's ever happened here," said Chris Byrd, bartender at Texas Jive. Byrd was bartending on Monday and said Tad collapsed just after midnight. Police were already at the bar and contacted paramedics who arrived and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Huntoon said Tad, who lived in Plano, visited her in Denton often.
"He was an amazing person. Tad was about the most loyal person I ever knew, and was very honest," she said.
She said Thomas was involved in the Dallas theater scene and was nominated for a Raven award last year for sound design.
"He had a passion about doing things well," Barry said. "He put a lot of himself into whatever endeavor he was in."
Tad worked with autistic children as a special education teacher's assistant at DeWitt Perry Middle School in Carrollton.
Barry said his son worked with children that required him to foster above average attention and patience.
"He loved his kids," he said.
During fall 1998 and spring 1999, Dodson wrote for the arts and life and sports sections of the Daily.
"He was especially proud of his time at North Texas and on the journalism staff and working on staff at the paper," Barry said. "It was a point of pride with him."
Tad is survived by his parents, Barry and Judy Dodson of Carrollton, he was their only child.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 2 at Restland Funeral Home, 9220 Restland Road in Dallas. A gravesite service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, March 3 at Restland Funeral Home. Memorial services will be held for Dodson at 3:30 p.m., Friday, March 3 at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 5801 W. Plano Parkway in Plano.
NORTH TEXAS DAILY - March 2, 2006

THOMAS ASHLEY DODSON "TAD"
1977 - 2006

Restland Memorial Park, Carrollton, Dallas County, Texas