Thomas E. O’Dell

March 2019

His name is Thomas E. O’Dell, but please call him Colonel! Before he came to Stone County, he was in rehab at Woodland Village Nursing Center in Diamondhead. A resident of Gainesville, Fla., he has a master’s degree in hospital administration and served in the Army as a combat paramedic for more than 15 years. He is married to Suzanne O’Dell and has four sons and nine grandchildren. “My favorite thing to do is visit with my grandchildren,” he says. Mr. O’Dell’s — sorry, Colonel’s! — hobbies include playing Bingo and Scrabble, reading the newspaper, bird watching while sitting with his peers and telling stories of his life.