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61 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, October 10, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 8, 2004 Where are they now? TOM CRITSER MEDFORD HIGH SCHOOL, 1979 By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune If there was a turning point in Tom Critser’s life, the Oregon State football camp the summer before his senior year of high school is as worthy a candidate as any. Off his performance there, the running back fell into favor with the OSU coaches when he dominated his position, which included talented Southern California players. It led to a scholarship, which led to a business degree, which led to work in New York City, which resulted in him meeting his wife, which led to a move back to the West Coast, where he and Kimberlee are raising a family. "I wouldn’t have had that exposure and experience if it wasn’t for (OSU)," says Critser, who lives in Mountain View, Calif., and is vice president of sales and business development for the software company Infravio. "The football wasn’t so great, but everything that came about from it was really good." Critser was a wingback on the 1977 Medford co-state title team and its workhorse tailback the following year, earning all-conference honors. OSU knew him from its camp, but he got the attention of other college recruiters with a 170-yard, three-touchdown game at Hillsboro. "I don’t even know if I was on the map for some of those schools," says Critser, naming Oregon and Washington among the suitors. Advertisement But OSU won out. Critser, who returned punts and kickoffs, was switched to defensive back as a freshman under coach Craig Fertig, who was replaced the following year by Joe Avezzano. The Beavers didn’t win much — quite a change from his 26-2-1 career at Medford — but Critser was a starter from his sophomore year. It was that year he intercepted a John Elway pass in a game at Stanford. "There was no skill whatsoever," laughs Critser. "Someone tipped the ball and it basically landed in my arms and I took off with it. Still, to this day I get to say I intercepted one of Elway ’s passes." Upon graduation, he moved to New York in the mid-1980s and got into software sales. He also became partners in a trendy restaurant, Central Falls, that counted among its patrons the Saturday Night Live crew and catered many movies shot in New York. During that time, he rubbed elbows with the likes of Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro and Madonna. "It was a very interesting time," he says, "but the biggest thing is we didn’t lose our shirts." He met Kimberlee, a financial analyst, and the two became engaged about the time he was transferred to San Francisco in the early 1990s. He eventually started his own company, Tristep, which was acquired in 2000 by eWork. He joined up with Infravio soon after. Though his job requires much travel and "evangelizing" about his company — he’s in Texas this week — he’s hoping to spend more time at home. "The glamour of travel wore off a long time ago," he says. The Critsers have two daughters, Samantha, 11, and Emma, 8. Samantha is among the country’s top-ranked 12-and-under tennis players. Critser is wistful when he reflects on his Medford days. "Medford was just awesome," he says. "I wish I was able to provide the same kind of environment for my daughters. There were great families, and the sports part of it was incredible. It was a wonderful place to grow up." Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities