Tom Theis was born in North Prairie, Wisconsin on August 4, 1929, and grew up in Mukwanago. Tom was a sportsman for all seasons, actively supporting the Packers, Brewers, Badgers and Warriors. But softball was his first love.

Tom was co-founder of the Saturday Softball Beer League (SSBL) in 1978, and was mainly responsible for starting the Wreck Room Classic Softball Tournament over Memorial Day weekend in 1978. Tom also served as Tournament Director for the 1979 Gay Softball World Series in Milwaukee, and personally invited Twin Cities, Chicago and Boston to the tournament.

Tom's contributions to Gay softball were recognized at the Twin Cities Good Times Softball Classic in 1989, and in San Francisco in 1990 at the Pendulum Classic Softball Tournament.

AIDS took it toll on Tom over the last few years of his life, and he became more outspoken, especially on AIDS issues. He died February 26, 1991 of complications from AIDS.