Tom Saylor, the former football coach at Hudson High School, passed away at the age of 83 on September 25, 2025.
He is survived by his children, Todd, Shane, and Taryn. He was a beloved grandfather to 8 grandchildren and a great-grandfather to 4 great-grandchildren.
Saylor was a great college athlete before he started his coaching journey. He is also a Hall of Fame High School Coach.
Hundreds of tributes have poured in for Tom Saylor, who was not only a football coach but also a kind man and a successful businessperson.
Many former players have also marked him as the best coach of their lives. “My favorite football coach , great man,” said Mark, an ex-student of the late Coach.
Saylor has also influenced many other future coaches, thanks to his advice and how he sees the game tactically.
“My Dad played for him on the ‘68 team and thought the world of him. When I first started coaching he talked to me several times on the phone and gave me great advice. RIP Coach,” said Jason.
While he was one of the best coaches in Steuben County, his contributions off the field are undoubtedly remarkable.
He Saw Business also as an act to Spread Kindness
Tom was also a founder of Tom’s Donuts. The business has been running for almost five decades.
But he saw his business not just as a means to generate revenue, but also as a way to spread kindness to the community.
One of the customers of Tom Donuts shared an emotional story from the 70’s, after knowing of Tom’s death.
“So sad. I grew up with Tom since I was a little girl. We first started at Bledsoe’s, then Hilltop, then Jimmerson Shores. Then about 50 years ago my Husband and I built on Snow Lake. Tom’s donuts was a staple in our house and loved when they used to be open late at night so you could get a donut fix if out and about. A few years back when we took our grandkids for our weekend dozen or so Gpa had just said to the girls that we had enough as we don’t want to get fat and out from around the corner came Tom and said “Naw, I’ve been eating them for years and I’m doing great”. We talked to him awhile about all the old times and He told us to sit tight he’d be right back. He came back with a marker and autographed the lid of our donut box. We framed it and it hangs in our cottage. He was an amazing man. If you got a dozen and he was around you’d get more. Many times all you could cram into a box for $10. Miss those days. He will be sorely missed. RIP good man. You gave us all who knew you or Tom’s Donuts great memories!”
There are countless stories involving Tom, and words aren’t enough to describe his legacy in expanding the Donut culture, not just around Angola, Indiana, but all around the USA.
It is all down to his dedication, hard work, kindness, and humility. Tom has gathered not just customers and students, but a family, and was more than just a coach and a businessman.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Tom’s Donuts is also known as the Donut Capital of the World. He founded the business in Angola in 1970.
- The main outlet of Tom’s donuts made a Guinness World Record by selling 8,558 donuts in a single day.
- After Tom’s retirement, his son, Todd Saylor, took over the business.
