Tom Klein recently stepped down as the Chairman of the
Stanford Rugby Foundation. It is time to recognize and thank
Tom for everything he has done for rugby at Stanford University.
Indeed, it is becuase of Tom’s vision and energy that the
Foundation has been successful in supporting Stanford Rugby
and ensuring that the program will remain strong into the future.

Tom Klein played rugby while an undergraduate at Stanford
in 1969-72, along with some of the greats of Stanford Rugby,
including Don Bunce, Jack Schultz, Jim Kaufman, Jack Lasater,
Wade Killefer and Ron Kadziel, among many others. His
coach was the legendary Pete Kmetovic. Stanford won the
Monterey Tournament all four of his undergraduate years, which
tournament then constituted the mythical national championship.
Indeed, Tom was a great player himself, one of the best ever to
play at Stanford. Upon graduation, Tom continued to play for the
local Bay Area Touring Side (BATS). He was selected to play for
the fi rst ever United States Eagles Team in its inaugural match
against Australia in 1976, followed by its fi rst game against
Canada. He was then selected for the first ever United States
Eagles Tour to England in 1977, which he had to decline due to
his enrollment at Stanford Business School. He played for the
Eagles when they won their fi rst match against Canada in 1978.

Although Tom’s playing career was shortened by injury, he
remained involved as President of the BATS for many years. But
his priority was always Stanford Rugby.

The Stanford Men’s Rugby program was somewhat in disarray in
1989 when Tom decided to get involved. He quickly assembled
a group of alumni, young and old, for the purpose of raising an
endowment to support the men’s club rugby program, particularly
with regard to coaching and team transportation. Under his
leadership, the Stanford Rugby Foundation was launched, and
alumni soon contributed the initial funds necessary to hire a new
coach for the men’s team. By 1994, enough money had been
raised to create an endowment, which at last count has grown to
$1.88 million! By 1996, the new coach had brought Stanford to
the Final Four in the U.S.

Tom Klein was indeed the vision and energy behind all of the
early organizational and fund-raising efforts, the interaction with
the athletic department, and the selection of coaches for the
team. He gave generously, both of his time and his fi nances,
and set an example for all to follow. Following the early
successes of the Foundation and the men’s team, Tom tirelessly
continued to work in the background to raise the necessary
funds to continue the growth of the program. Certainly, without
Tom’s leadership, Stanford would not enjoy the benefi ts of the
Steuber Family Field or the Doyle Family Clubhouse.

The Stanford Rugby program, men’s and women’s, now enjoys
the fi nest rugby facility in the United States. The endowment is
healthy and growing, and new coaches are building the program
on the fi eld. More students are participating and enjoying the
program than at any time in the last twenty years.

Thank you Tom, for everything you have done for Stanford
Rugby.