Dr.
Thomas Seals
Class of 1992
Background:
Thomas Seals was born October 31, 1920, in North Carolina,
USA, and died October 25, 1985. He received a doctor of education
degree in 1966 from Florida State University in Tallahassee,
Florida; a master of arts degree in 1951 from New York University;
a bachelor of science degree in 1941 from Appalachian State
University in Boone, North Carolina; and an associate of arts
degree from Lees McRae Junior College in 1939 at Banner Elk,
North Carolina.
Professional
Experience:
Tom Seals began his professional career in 1941 as a teacher
of science, safety education, and athletics. Between 1942
and 1946 he served as a chief petty officer in the naval reserve.
He returned to teaching science in 1946, and a year later
became a driver education teacher for the Delaware Department
of Public Instruction. Following that, he served as an educational
consultant with the Association of Casualty and Surety Companies,
as a traffic safety consultant for the Insurance Institute
for Highway Safety, and as a consultant in health and safety
with the Florida Department of Education.
During
1966 and 1967, Seals served as a consultant in safety education
with the National Commission of Safety Education. From 1967
to 1968, he was acting chief, Division of Driver Education,
with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Between
1968 and 1971, he held the position of curriculum coordinator
and served as project director for a model driver education
program with the Department of Education, San Diego County,
California. From August 1971 until his retirement in 1983,
he served as an associate professor and professor in the College
of Education at Florida State University.
Career
Highlights:
Dr. Seals was in constant demand as a keynote speaker and
presenter. He was a prolific writer. His work to establish
driver education in the Highway Safety Act of 1966, and his
development of driver education standards for state programs
pushed the federal government to devote $133 million to driver
education. While at San Diego, he developed curriculum materials
which influenced traffic safety education throughout California
and the nation. His ability to obtain grants resulted in many
millions of dollars for safety projects. While at Florida
State, he developed a driver improvement program which is
successfully reducing driving violations and collisions in
that state. It is estimated that these and his other contributions
to traffic safety have saved hundreds of lives, prevented
thousands of injuries, and saved millions of dollars in property
losses.
