The Tough Old Men adventure began with Barron Smith. A simple man who loved life and a good ol’ adventure. He was the prime example of Tough Old Men [TOM]. Any chance he had, he was outside — wandering in the woods, running, hiking, kayaking, playing sports, biking, skiing, swimming and whatever else he could find to do outside.
Barron was also an observer. He was impressed with men in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond who continued to actively enjoy life. These tough old guys were not spectators. They challenged themselves, competed against time, and continued to actively work and play.
June 2009
The idea came to Barron while traveling between plumbing jobs. He thought about the group of guys he cycled with on Saturday mornings, a majority in their 40s, all except Rob, who was in his 50s. Rob kept up with the pack, took turns pulling the pace-line, and usually on the hill climbs he was one of the first to the top.
The hill
On a hot summer day in Northwest Georgia, with temperatures near 90 degrees and humidity about the same, Barron and Rob crested a hill. Barron turned to Rob and said, “Man, you’re a TOM!” Rob had a blank look. Barron explained: “You know, T-O-M. Tough Old Man!”
From then on, TOM was used for compliments and encouragements. They wanted to use it as a way to motivate older men to get outside, have an adventure, and of course, enjoy life. It is not about the age. It is about living while you can, being active, and having fun.