Having served as a licensed marriage and family therapist and president of the American Family Foundation and the Matthew25Mission, four-time award-winning author Tom McQueen is an expert on family dynamics and leadership success. But what has taught him most about life, love and family is his role as a father and grandfather. When Dick Vitale at ESPN read "Letters to Ethan," he said, "This book is AWESOME, baby!" Coach Lou Holtz wrote the book's back cover copy, a personal letter addressed to Ethan. Tom's keynotes and workshops receive rave reviews from parishes, organizations, and businesses around the country.
With his best-selling book, Letters to Ethan: A Grandfather’s Legacy of Life and Love (Seraphina Press), Tom McQueen was awarded Excellence in Media’s “Angel Award,” of which previous winners include Tom Hanks, Diane Sawyer, Randy Travis and the acclaimed movie, "The Blind Side." Tom shares his wisdom through 33 letters he penned to his young grandson, Ethan, offering advice on topics ranging from faith to friendship to fun. Letters to Ethan was also the recipient of the Nautilus Book Award and the National Indie Excellence Award.
Never knowing his paternal grandparents due to their premature deaths, McQueen always wished they left something behind to explain their viewpoints on family and life in general. This childhood wish inspired him to write letters to his son and grandson, documenting the mistakes and miracles in his life.
Tom's book, Reflections of a Hospice Chaplain: Life Lessons From The Death Journeys of Young and Old (Xulon Press, 2017) is being heralded by Catholic and Christian counselors nationwide as a landmark resource for practically applying the wisdom of the dying to the lives of the living. In the fall of 2019, Tom's publisher, Xulon Press, released Tom's much anticipated book, What I Learned When I Died: Life Lessons From Heaven. His book of prayers, God Is The Only Answer (2020), is currently available on Amazon.
Born in Utica, N.Y., McQueen attended Notre Dame High School and received a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Philosophy and Theology. Tom served as a licensed marriage and family therapist for 25 years and currently is a Board Certifed Chaplain who ministers to hospice and healthcare organizations.
As a result of his work with families and youth, McQueen was personally invited to the White House Conference on Youth by the President of the United States. The mayor of Pensacola, Fla., also asked McQueen to lead the city in creating a statement of core values after the city was decimated by abortion clinic bombings.
Although Letters to Ethan marked McQueen’s debut as an author, he has written several business and self-help books including Near-life Experiences: Discovering New Powers for Personal Growth, which encourages readers to take advantage of daily opportunities, and Jesus Therapy: The Best Advice Money Can't Buy. McQueen’s articles have also been published in several national magazines, and he has been featured in the Orlando Sentinel, Pensacola News Journal and other newspapers in the U.S.. Tom has also appeared on the Lifetime Television Network, the "This Is The Day" program on CatholicTV, and numerous radio and television shows throughout the United States and Canada. His podcast, Wisdom for a Crazy World, can be heard on iTunes and nine other networks worldwide.
In 2016, Tom co-authored Common Sense Leadership and Common Sense Engagement with Maj. Gen. Karl R. Horst (US Army, RET), former Chief of Staff at US Central Command at MacDill AFB and former President and CEO of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
Tom is currently the Founder of The Matthew 25 Mission, Inc., a non-profit foundation that serves the poorest of the poor in Florida.
Tom travels nationally and internationally and presents worshops and seminars for churches, businesses, and organizations. Here's what others are saying about Tom:
“I’m very familiar with Tom’s work as a Chaplain…When I was stationed at St. Andrew’s parish in Newtown, PA, I invited Tom to speak to our children and families. Not only was the information Tom presented both timely and relevant, but his engaging presentation style also captured the attention of both young and old alike.”
Sister Jean Liston, G.N.S.H.
Former Superior General, Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart
“Tom and I have co-authored two books on leadership and the servant heart approach to leading and caring for people. Tom is truly one of the finest and most charitable men I have ever had the privilege to know. Tom’s character and demeanor is the embodiment of the servant heart philosophy.”
Maj. General Karl Horst (US Army-RET)
Former Chief of Staff, US Central Command
MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, FL
“Your grandfather, Tom McQueen, wrote you this book. Even those of us who have been around for a while can learn a thing or two from your grandpa. He’s helped a lot of folks as a therapist; he’s inspired audiences with his seminars; and he’s shared his thoughts in several other books.”
Coach Lou Holtz
From his endorsement of Letters to Ethan
Tom lives on Florida's west coast, is an avid Tampa Bay Lightning hockey fan, a proud member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Largo, Florida, and enjoys learning about anything that his grandson, Ethan, wants to teach him.
His three most requested topics nationally are:
1. Faith, Family & Miracles
2. The Six Keys for Making Marriage Work
3. Leadership and Employee Engagement - - - presented with Maj. General Karl Horst - US Army (RET)
4. Reflections of a Hospice Chaplain
5. What I Learned When I Died
