Thomas Dale "Tom" White

Thomas Dale “Tom” White, AKA Thomas Blanco, AKA the World’s Most Interesting Man (in more ways than one), left us on October 15, 2026, at home with his wife, Teresa, two weeks shy of his 84th birthday.

Tom was born in El Dorado, Kansas, to Erman Ben White and Helen Mae (McKown) White. He graduated from El Dorado High School in 1960, where he wrestled and played baseball, football and track, and was active in Field and Stream. He went on to the University of Kansas and stayed a Jayhawk super fan for the rest of his life.

His college years produced more than one legend, and the most famous is known simply as “the Switch.” Ask anyone who knew him back then.

In the early 1960s, Tom lived in California for a while with his Aunt Tilly. He later settled in Wichita, with a stint in Hawaii along the way. For most of his adult life he was President of White & Ellis Drilling, Inc., the company his father founded. In business and in life, Tom’s handshake meant something. He was a longtime member of the Young Presidents’ Organization, which took him all over the world, and he was a trusted source of counsel to many.

Tom loved cars. As a young man, he and his brother Bill built a 1931 Ford coupe together, and that car appeared in the very first Darryl Starbird car show. For his 40th birthday, he bought himself a red 1981 Ferrari 308 GTSi, the same car Magnum, P.I. drove, and Tom wore it better. In his 80s, his garage still held a Tesla Model S Plaid.

If there was one word for Tom, it was fun. He lived a big life and brought everyone along for the ride. He was an accomplished cook and a serious griller, and his favorite thing was a house full of family and friends. He loved good wine, the ocean and anywhere near it, especially Cabo San Lucas and St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he scuba dived. He loved the bike trails in Aspen, and he never missed a chance to cheer on the Kansas Jayhawks. And anyone who ever flew with Tom knows all about the thumbs-up.

Above all, Tom was proud of his family. He is survived by his wife, Teresa White. He is also survived by his son Tom White Jr. and Melissa Sherry of Wichita; his son Drew White and Bob Walden of Savannah, Georgia; his stepson Richard Lawrence Krause of Wichita; his grandchildren Charlie Goree and Addison Goree; his step-granddaughter Ava Leigh Krause of Wichita; and his niece Carol Sue White of Wichita.

He was preceded in death by his father, Erman White; his mother, Helen White; his brother, William “Bill” White; his daughter, Katherine Goree; and his stepson, Drake Krause.

The family is deeply grateful to all of the caregivers who gave their time and love to Tom over the last year.

A private family urn burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at Kensington Gardens. A Celebration of Life will follow from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. that afternoon at Cozine Life Events Center, 11500 E. 21st St. N., Wichita, Kansas, with remarks at 3:00 p.m. Come raise a glass to Tom, red, white or Dos Equis, hear the real stories behind the Switch and the thumbs-up, and have exactly the kind of fun he would have loved.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Victory in the Valley or the Wichita Cancer Foundation.

The World’s Most Interesting Man has left the building, and the world is a little less interesting without him. There will never be another Thomas Blanco.

Stay thirsty, our friends.