The Life of THOMAS PATRICK HYLAND
Prominent Des Moines attorney, Thomas (Tom) Patrick Hyland, 85, passed away May 31, 2016. Tom was born July 13, 1930 to Thomas Patrick Hyland, Sr. and Marjorie (Collette) Hyland in Chicago, Illinois.
Tom spent most of his early years as an elite basketball player in Illinois. In 1948 he was selected to the All Area High School Basketball Team and then attended Drake University on a basketball scholarship. He was well known for his passing and play making abilities.
Tom was awarded Varsity “D” from 1951-53 by Drake’s Athletic Council. He was in Drake’s All Decade Team of the 1950’s. In 1985 Drake’s National D Club presented Tom with the Double D Award Honoring Letter Winners for Distinguished Achievement. In 1988 he was inducted into Iowa AAU Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame and B’Nai B’Rith Sports Hall of Fame. Tom was also past president of Drake’s National D Club and president of his fraternity, Theta Chi.
Immediately following his graduation with a BS degree, Tom went to Milwaukee and played semi-pro basketball for Allen Bradley (an industrial league). He then returned to Drake in 1956 to attend law school.
Following graduation from Drake University Law School in June 1959, Tom worked as an assistant Polk County Attorney. He entered private practice with attorney Mike Wilson and later started his own firm, which ultimately became Hyland, Laden & Pearson P.C.
Tom was a charter member of the Polk County Civil Service Commission for 25 years, serving as chairman for several years. He was a member of the C. Edwin Moore American Inns of Court, and awarded “Master of the Bench.” He was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Judicial Nominating committee and subsequently won an election for a six year term. He was also listed in “Best Lawyers” for a number of years before retiring in 2002.
With a deep love for the game of golf, Tom played whenever and wherever possible, making 3 hole-in-one’s during his lifetime. A member of Des Moines Golf and Country Club since 1972, his last wish was to play “one more time.”
He is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Monica; his children, Karen (Randy) Croat, Kimberly (Neil) Nicastro, and Thomas Hyland III; grandchildren, Jeffery (Maggie Buch) Croat, Beth (Nick) Mehalovich, Nicholas, Mark and Kelly Nicastro, Sean Hyland, and Kelli Sue (Theo) Castellano; great-grandchildren, Zachary Croat and Tyler and Avery Mehalovich; and his siblings, Timothy (Kate) Hyland, Terence (Carol) Hyland and Mary (Paul) Klausner. Tom was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Yvonne Kenwood and Marjorie Gallagher; and his first wife and mother of his children, Elizabeth Ann McDougal.
Services will be held at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, IA with visitation on Thursday, June 2, 2016 from 4 to 7 p.m. and the funeral service on Friday, June 3 at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens in Des Moines.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made in the name of Thomas P. Hyland to the Iowa Kidney Foundation or the Animal Rescue League.
Tom spent most of his early years as an elite basketball player in Illinois. In 1948 he was selected to the All Area High School Basketball Team and then attended Drake University on a basketball scholarship. He was well known for his passing and play making abilities.
Tom was awarded Varsity “D” from 1951-53 by Drake’s Athletic Council. He was in Drake’s All Decade Team of the 1950’s. In 1985 Drake’s National D Club presented Tom with the Double D Award Honoring Letter Winners for Distinguished Achievement. In 1988 he was inducted into Iowa AAU Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame and B’Nai B’Rith Sports Hall of Fame. Tom was also past president of Drake’s National D Club and president of his fraternity, Theta Chi.
Immediately following his graduation with a BS degree, Tom went to Milwaukee and played semi-pro basketball for Allen Bradley (an industrial league). He then returned to Drake in 1956 to attend law school.
Following graduation from Drake University Law School in June 1959, Tom worked as an assistant Polk County Attorney. He entered private practice with attorney Mike Wilson and later started his own firm, which ultimately became Hyland, Laden & Pearson P.C.
Tom was a charter member of the Polk County Civil Service Commission for 25 years, serving as chairman for several years. He was a member of the C. Edwin Moore American Inns of Court, and awarded “Master of the Bench.” He was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Judicial Nominating committee and subsequently won an election for a six year term. He was also listed in “Best Lawyers” for a number of years before retiring in 2002.
With a deep love for the game of golf, Tom played whenever and wherever possible, making 3 hole-in-one’s during his lifetime. A member of Des Moines Golf and Country Club since 1972, his last wish was to play “one more time.”
He is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Monica; his children, Karen (Randy) Croat, Kimberly (Neil) Nicastro, and Thomas Hyland III; grandchildren, Jeffery (Maggie Buch) Croat, Beth (Nick) Mehalovich, Nicholas, Mark and Kelly Nicastro, Sean Hyland, and Kelli Sue (Theo) Castellano; great-grandchildren, Zachary Croat and Tyler and Avery Mehalovich; and his siblings, Timothy (Kate) Hyland, Terence (Carol) Hyland and Mary (Paul) Klausner. Tom was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Yvonne Kenwood and Marjorie Gallagher; and his first wife and mother of his children, Elizabeth Ann McDougal.
Services will be held at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, IA with visitation on Thursday, June 2, 2016 from 4 to 7 p.m. and the funeral service on Friday, June 3 at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens in Des Moines.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made in the name of Thomas P. Hyland to the Iowa Kidney Foundation or the Animal Rescue League.