Grandmaster Thomas Perry and I are long time friends. He is instrumental in my being able to open a dojang for Tae Kwon Do. We first met in 1978 in Decatur at Rho Academy of Martial Arts. We became close friends during that period up until I departed Decatur and moved to Florida. When I decided to move back to Illinois in 2005 and decided I would like to open a school, it was then that I found out that my friend from my past was now in the business of teaching and passing on the art of Tae Kwon Do. It was no suprise that he would finally be Grandmaster. He has worked very diligently to obtain his rank. He did what no other person would have done and that was put aside his important work to help a friend. For that I am forever grateful. He is also my advisor and teacher.