"The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well." Pierre de Coubertin

Tom Rodden earned recognition as an all-around athlete, collecting letters in three sports. He earned three letters in football and three letters in baseball and was named to the All-Capitol District team in both sports. He won two letters in indoor track and was a member of the 1962 HPHS team that took the Capitol District Conference Championship and the CIAC L State Championship.

Tom went on to Central Connecticut State University, where he played football and tennis for three years, graduating in 1968. Tom served as tennis coach at Manchester Community College and conducted the junior program in tennis there. He also taught tennis at the Manchester Tennis Club.

Always a multi-sport athlete, Tom continued to hone his skills on the ballfield in the venerable Greater Hartford Twilight Baseball League.