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Thomas Reed spent his last 3 years of HS going to Plant High School in Tampa. At Plant he pitched on the baseball team and played as a backup on the football team. He eventually learned how to kick, and played on the varsity team his senior year as a wide receiver, plus kicking extra points and field goals.
Reed was looked at by a couple colleges locally, including the University of Tampa for his baseball prowess. He decided to go to the University of Tampa, but dropped out after one season where he only played sparingly on the freshman team there.
He decided to go into business, and worked at one of Tampa's leading department stores, Maas Brothers, before World War II started in 1941. He enlisted in the Navy, and spent time on ships overseas as an ensign and travelled the world. He eventually took part in the Battle of Guam in 1944 and after the successful taking over of the territory, later suffered a broken foot running over shrapnel and got a honorable discharge.
Reed returned to Tampa in 1945, finding a sweetheart, marrying in January 1946 to Rachel. He continued working at the Maas Brothers, before getting a job with the Smokers part-time in late 1946. Tampa just got organized baseball back that season, as the Smokers won the Florida International League title in the league's first season.
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