About
The Captain Thomas John Heitmann Memorial consists of family and friends who would like to fulfill Thomas’ dreams.
Thomas was a man who possessed many talents. He was a man of honor, courage, and excellence. Prior to being a United States Marine Corps pilot, he was an all- star track athlete at St. Bede Academy. Thomas excelled at using his brain and also had an aching desire to use his feet – to run. He had a passion for running.
Thomas trained on the school track facility, which included a weathered, somewhat dilapidated circle drive and the streets of Peru, IL. In spite of his less than state of the art equipment, Thomas placed at the state level. He was also named the 2002 News Tribune Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year and currently holds two of the Academy’s track and field records.
A year before he died, Thomas wrote a letter to his high school track coach and told him about his desire to build a track at St. Bede. Thomas also expressed to his sisters that he wanted to help provide scholarships to students in the ROTC program at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, St. Bede, and for children of fallen Marines. The Captain Thomas John Heitmann Memorial Fund consists of family and friends who would like to fulfill Thomas’ dreams.
