Tom Van Hee was involved in Colorado wrestling, as a coach and as an official, from 1967 to 1989.

Tom graduated from La Junta High School in 1962 and attended colleges at Lamar Junior College, Arizona State University, Colorado State University and the University of Southern Colorado. He graduated and wrestled for Lamar Junior College from 1962 to 1964 and attended Arizona State to wrestle in 1964.

Tom left school to work for the Santa Fe Railroad to earn money to go back to school. During his work, he was drafted and served in the United States Army from 1966-67 and served our country fighting in the Vietnam War. He received the Medal of Commendation.

Upon return, Tom was able to finish college on the GI Bill and graduated from Southern Colorado State College (now CSU-Pueblo).

He began his coaching career at Fowler High School in 1971 and retired in 1989.

However, he remained as an official until 2000.

In his time as a coach, he amassed a dual meet record of 131-49-2 and coached 24 individual state champions as well as many place winners.

His officiating career consisted of many Colorado high school and collegiate dual meets and tournaments as well as being an international FILA I-Exceptional official.

As a coach at Fowler, his teams won the Colorado state title four times (1983, 1986, 1987 and 1989) while finishing second three times, third twice and fourth and fifth once.

Among the individual state champions he coached, several achieved multiple titles, including the Flores brothers Henry, Tom and John and his own sons Brent and Miles.

A number of his former wrestlers pursued careers in the sport of wrestling, including Miles Van Hee, who is head coach of Western State College, Pete Isais of USA Wrestling and a number of others working in the high school coaching ranks.

Tom lives in Fowler with his wife, Kaye and enjoys retirement and travel.