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Created in 2013, Skate Guard is a blog that focuses on overlooked and underappreciated areas of the history of figure skating, whether that means a topic completely unknown to most readers or a new look at a well-known skater, time period, or event. There's plenty to explore, so pour yourself a cup of coffee and get lost in the fascinating and fabulous history of everyone's favourite winter sport!

Tom Summitt

 Thomas Carl Summitt

April 27, 1952-September 9, 2000

Left photo courtesy "Watauga Democrat" Archives

Born in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, Tom Summitt placed sixth in the novice pairs event at the 1975 Upper Great Lakes Championships with his partner Donna Bumgarner and won several gold medals in ISI team competitions. He went on to tour with the Ice Capades. He passed away in Monroe, North Carolina on September 9, 2000 at the age of forty-eight.


Tom's obituary from "The Charlotte Observer": "Thomas Carl Summitt, 48, of Charlotte died September 9 at Union County Hospice. He was born April 26, 1952 in Charlotte to the late Thomas Lee and Pauline Graham Summitt... Thomas was a graduate of Garringer High School and Appalachian College and attended Third Presbyterian Church. He had skated for and was employed by the Ice Capades for many years and had also worked for Foy Inventerprises. He is survived by 2 sisters, Natalie Vance of Mooresville, Leann Roberson of Greensboro; nephew, Jack Thomas Roberson; grandmother, Eve Graham of Charlotte; great aunts, Margaret Harrelson of Charlotte, and Bertha Turner of Lancaster, SC."

*Source for inclusion: Interview with Mardi McKerrow, April 2021

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