Tom Hawkins career as a sports builder began with the diamond sport. He coached five seasons in the National Little League, helped form the Gordon Head Little League and the Cosmopolitan Babe Ruth League and assisted in forming the Victoria & District Baseball Association, serving as its treasurer for 15 years. In 1974 Tom started what would become 12 consecutive years as an executive member of the Victoria Horseshoe Club, serving as president from 1978 to 1984. He also served 10 years as a B.C. Horseshoe Association director and was instrumental in creating their provincial Hall of Fame. Locally, he was involved in expanding the Victoria club to 28 covered and floodlit pits. Tom assumed a leadership role in the organizing and hosting of major national events at the club and was invaluable in establishing the sport of horseshoe pitching in Victoria. The Victoria Horseshoe Club honoured Tom with a Life Membership in 1993 and he is a member of both the Canadian and B.C. Horseshoe Halls of Fame.