Tommy Moon, whose success as a race car driver made him a fan favorite in Jacksonville, FL in the late 1940s and early 1950s before being paralyzed during a 1954 race, died Thursday evening at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa. He was 77. A life-long Jacksonville resident and the recipient of the Purple Heart, Moon was the oldest-licensed NASCAR driver and among the first inductees of the Jax Raceways Hall of Fame in ’91. He was honored at the ’93 Daytona 500 with a parade lap around the track, in which he received a standing ovation. A viewing for Moon will be held from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday at the Town & Country Funeral Home on Normandy Boulevard. The funeral is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the same location. Moon, who was one of the thousands of U.S. soldiers to storm Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, received the Purple Heart after getting shot while on duty in Brest, France. With the help of his father, Thomas Henry “Pop” Moon, Tommy began his racing career after returning to Jacksonville following the war. Moon’s career was cut short when he was paralyzed during a 10-lap heat race at Jax Raceways in October of 1954. Moon was involved in a nine-car accident that sent his ’37 Ford rolling on its side before getting hit by a second car. His spinal cord was severed during the accident, leaving him unable to walk or race again. Two years after the accident, Moon became the second person ever presented with a lifetime membership to NASCAR. Red Vogt, who was one of the most successful mechanics during the 1940s and 1950s, was the first person given a lifetime membership.( Florida Times Union ). Moon ran in 10 Cup races, winning a pole and having a top 5 and 3 top 10’s.(3-23-2003)
