Speaker

 Meet Tom Starr, our KASFAA Conference 2025 Keynote Speaker!

Tom Starr served as executive director of four different college football post-season bowl games, the only individual to have ever done so. They were the Sun Bowl (El Paso, Texas); Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, Texas); Freedom Bowl (Anaheim, California); and First Responder Bowl (Dallas, Texas). He was co-founder of the latter three. In addition, he also held the title of Sr. Associate Executive Director of the Independence Bowl (Shreveport, Louisiana).

He was twice named College Football Bowl Executive-of-the-Year and received the College Football Bowl Association Legacy Award in 2023. The Armed Forces Bowl Most Valuable Player Award (Starr MVP Trophy) is named in his honor. Prior to his entry into the college bowl business, Tom had a tenure as Service Bureau Director of the Big Eight (presently Big 12) Conference, and once occupied the position of Sports Information Director at Iowa State University.

Starr received a B.A. Degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Iowa, and completed his course work for a Master’s Degree in Public Relations at Iowa State University. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of his prep alma mater, Newton, Iowa High School. Starr is also a graduate of the ESPN School of Business and the U.S. Army Adjutant General School.

An Army Veteran, Starr served a one-year tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam and was the recipient of a Bronze Star Medal, two Joint Service Commendation Medals (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (awarded by the South Vietnamese Government), among other honors.

He is the author of “They Never Heard the Final Shot” with a sub-title of “After 50 Years – The Truth About Vietnam,” which was released this past Veteran’s Day.

Tom is married to Cathy (Worsham) Starr, and they reside in Fort Worth, Texas. They have two children, Cherish Calovich and Carter Starr, and grandchildren Zack, Colton, and Mackenzie Calovich, and Lacey Starr.