Thomas A. Barron

Tom Barron ( Author and Businessman )

Tom Barron spent much of his youth in the ranch country north of Colorado Springs.One of seven kids , he attended middle school and high school in Public School District 20.He was an active Boy Scout , earning his Eagle Scout and winning a nationwide Scouting competition called Report to the Nation.He worked summers as a counselor at the Pikes Boy Scout camp in Lake George , Colorado.As a high school senior , he won a Rural Electric Association speech competition and traveled to Washington , D.C..

Tom's father owned and operated the historic Alamo Hotel in Colorado Springs , one of the oldest hotels in Colorado.And after her youngest child started elementary school , Tom's mother went back to college to study geology-first at Colorado College in Colorado Springs , and then at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden.In recent years , she founded the touch museum at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind-a nature museum that children can experience by touch.

Tom attended Princeton University , where he won the university's prize for outstanding service.He also won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford , England-which he used , in his words , to study the hiking trails of Scotland and Wales..The two prizes gave Tom the funds he needed to travel widely in Europe , Asia , and Africa : He worked as a roof thatcher in rural Japan , trekked in India and Nepal , followed elephants in Kenya , and explored ancient ruins in Samarkand.During those travels , he wrote his first novel-which was rejected by several publishers.

After completing his MBA , Tom joined a venture capital business in New York City.He became a general partner of Sierra Ventures , and president and chief operating officer of the parent company , which made investments in several industries , including child care , transportation , and environmental testing.As chairman of the company that imported Swiss Army Knives into the United States , Tom worked to expand the company's business to create branded products such as Swiss Army watches.

When his business successfully completed its investments and distributed the assets to the shareholders , Tom resigned as president of the firm to return to Colorado.His goal : to write books full time and to raise a family with his wife , Currie.They moved back to Colorado in 1989.

From his home , Tom has written more than a dozen powerful , poetic , and inspiring books.Whether it's one of his novels about a heroic young girl or boy , his picture book about his own memories of his father , or his nature books about Rocky Mountain wilderness , Tom's books shine with his love of family , the great outdoors , and the idea that every person can make a difference.As Family Life magazine put it : Barron connects the past to the present , myth to reality , and the human heart to the infinite universe..

Tom's favorite pastime is hiking with his wife , Currie , and their five kids , ages five to fourteen , on mountain trails.In addition , he often speaks to schools and conventions around the country , and supports a variety of educational and conservation causes.A former trustee of Princeton University , he helped to found the university's program in environmental studies.He recently received the prestigious Robert Marshall Award for his efforts to protect America's wilderness heritage.Most recently , he established the Gloria Barron Young Heroes Prize , named after his mother , celebrating Colorado boys and girls who have made a positive difference to their communities.

For more information about Tom's books , explore his website at www.tabarron.com.

In the marvelous "Lost Years of Merlin" epic by Boulder children's author Tom Barron, the young wizard faces a daunting series of tests as he perfects the powers that will eventually enable him to shape a nation.But Barron goes beyond hoping just to inspire young people to real-world heroism through his books.His new hope is to discover and nourish the flames of courage and creativity as they appear in the emerging generation.Hence, the Gloria Barron Young Heroes Prize, named for Barron's mother, will on October 2 recognize its first set of recipients: 10 young Coloradans who have demonstrated courage, tenacity, generosity, and high purpose-the stuff of true heroism-through community projects conducted in the past year.We salute Barron for an idea with truly magical potential, as we also salute 10 young Coloradans for being well on the way to fulfilling that potential in their own lives:

-Michaella Gallina, 13, Pueblo West, creator of an Exceptional Rodeo for children with disabilities;

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In January 2001, Barron, known for books such as "The Wings of Merlin" in which young people overcome obstacles to make the world a better place, established the Gloria Barron Young Heroes Prize.The prize, which is named after his mother, recognizes Colorado children ages 6 to 18 who have contributed to their communities.

"You can see the ripple effect happening already," says Barron, who presented awards to 10 kids at an award ceremony earlier this month in Denver.

Two Boulder young people are winners of the $2,000 cash award and Barron Prize trophy this year.
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"We need our heroes now more than ever," Barron says."We need to honor them, we need to know them and we need to take inspiration from them."

A NEW UNDERSTANDING

During a history lesson about the ill treatment of poor people in ancient Rome, a light went on in Julia Hansford's head about the way in which underprivileged people are viewed in her own community.The insight led to an impulse to help people who are unable to afford the basic hygiene products, such as soap and deodorant, needed to get clean.

* T. A. Barron, Author, founder of the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.
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Copyright 2006 Thomas A. Barron.All Rights Reserved Worldwide