Tom Kirlis

Articles/Press:


Hall mark for ex-Oiler Kirlis

 Photos by Marc Vasconcellos/ The Enterprise

Tom Kirlis, bottom center, is surrounded by his family, from left, Tommy, 12; Matthew, 7; Larry, 5; his wife Lisa; Faith, 22 months old; and Michael, 8; in their Bridgewater home.

By Bob Stern

ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER

Posted Dec 12, 2008 @ 01:58 PM

BRIDGEWATER —

The year was 1980, and Tom Kirlis was a skinny graduate of Southeastern Voke with a longing to play football.

He had played in high school, even making a couple of area newspaper all-scholastic teams as a senior, but the love for the game was still part of him when he showed up at a practice for the Randolph Oilers of the Eastern Football League.

He looked around the field that day, looking at men older, stronger, heavier, taller and faster, and frankly, was intimidated.

“I was a skinny guy,” he said.

So he left and didn’t return for another two years. He’s glad he did.

“A couple of years later, I went from a size 42 jacket to a size 48,” he said. “I was a late developer, size-wise. Two years later, I went back and it was ‘Game on.’”

That game lasted for 12 seasons, and Kirlis was a mainstay at linebacker for the Oilers. He made more tackles, shed more blocks and took on more linemen than he could count, but he stayed because he loved what he was doing.

Tonight, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a former member of the Oilers will be bestowed upon him — induction into the American Football Association Hall of Fame in Sarasota, Fla.

“I was shocked at first,” said Kirlis, who was nominated for the honor by Peter O’Kane, the owner of the Oilers and a member of the AFA Hall of Fame. “It’s a great honor. I couldn’t believe it. It blows my mind.”

There are 571 members of the hall of fame, which includes 313 players. Also in there are numerous coaches, executives, officials and others associated with semi-pro football. Kirlis will be part of a class of 17 enshrined this year.

“It blows my mind,” said Kirlis.

Kirlis was a captain for 12 years for the Oilers, and that, O’Kane noted, says more about Kirlis than anything else he did on the field.

“He made it so proud to be part of the team,” said O’Kane. “He had a special way of making everyone feel important. It didn’t matter what your job was with the team, if you sold tickets or sold hot dogs.

“He was a linebacker, but what he really was was the captain.”

Kirlis, now 47, lives in Bridgewater with his wife, Lisa, and their five children: Thomas (12), Michael (8), Matthew (7), Larry (5) and Faith (22 months). Thomas is deaf and autistic, and Faith is deaf.

“It’s a challenge, but it’s rewarding,” said Kirlis. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Playing football and the adversity that goes with it gave me the background to deal with what I deal with in everyday life.

“Why should I feel sorry for myself? I’m proud of my kids and what they’ve accomplished. I wouldn’t trade my family. It’s awesome.”

Kirlis said Thomas goes to a special school in Framingham, and he takes his son to several Randolph Oilers games during the season.

“You deal with it and learn as time goes by,” he said. “The world’s not perfect. You do the best you can with what God gives you. We’ve made the best of it.”

Kirlis has had some thrills playing football over the years. In 1987, he went with the Oilers to Ireland and played some games in Belfast and Dublin.

“We won, 56-0 and 64-0,” said Kirlis. “We taught them the finer points of the game.”

Also in 1987, he tried out for the Patriots.

“That didn’t go too far, but it was an experience,” he said.

And in 1990, the Oilers won the Eastern Football League championship, beating Marlboro in the final, 27-21.

“I love the game of football,” he said. “It’s competitive, it’s an outlet and it kept me in shape. I’ve made a lot of good friends; they’re like family. I haven’t played in 15 years and some of the best friends I’ve met have been through football.”

Kirlis isn’t involved with the game much now; his family and business keep him pretty busy, but he says he’d like to get back into coaching. He did coach a midget team in Brockton for three years, but that was years ago.

But now, he has his memories, his friends and on Friday, he’ll have a well-deserved honor.

Said Kirlis, “It’s awesome.”

Copyright 2008 Randolph Herald. Some rights reserved

 
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