Wausau’s Dr. Thomas Garver inducted into Army Sports Hall of Fame

WAUSAU — Dr. Thomas Garver, a retired Marshfield Clinic orthopedic surgeon and longtime Wausau resident, has been inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame for a collegiate career that still ranks among the best in Army hockey history.

Garver, a 1977 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, was one of six members of the Class of 2026 formally inducted Sept. 11 during the Army Sports Hall of Fame ceremony at Eisenhower Hall in West Point, New York.

Nearly five decades after his final season, Garver remains Army hockey’s all-time wins leader with 75 victories as a goaltender.

He finished his Army career with a 75-30-3 record and a 3.76 goals-against average in 109 career starts. At the time, his 75 victories ranked eighth in NCAA history.

Garver also held Army’s career saves record for nearly 30 years and set academy career records in saves, starts and minutes played in the postseason.

As a senior in 1977, Garver served as team captain and was named Second-Team All-East. His athletic career at West Point extended beyond the ice: He also played two seasons of men’s lacrosse.

Garver went on to a career in medicine and became an orthopedic surgeon with Marshfield Clinic before retiring. In Wausau, he also has been active in city government, recently serving on the Wausau Police and Fire Commission and serving as chair of the city’s Ethics Board.

Garver was inducted alongside Jennifer Blatty, women’s tennis; Robert Dickerson, football; Kelsey Minato, women’s basketball; Lyle Nelson, skiing and Olympic biathlon; and Robert Steenlage, wrestling.

The Hall of Fame class was also recognized during Army’s Sept. 12 football game against South Florida, when plaques honoring the inductees were unveiled. The plaques will be permanently displayed in the Lessey Army Sports Hall of Fame at Michie Stadium.

The Army Sports Hall of Fame recognizes athletes, coaches, teams, administrators and others whose accomplishments have brought distinction to Army athletics.