Setting offense records for total yards from scrimmage and leading the Salem Wildcats in the rushing and passing categories his junior and senior years, led Tom Horner to All-Conference, All-State and All-American honors.

Horner, ran and passed for a total of 2,312 yards in his high school career. His senior year, when he garnered his post-season honors, he rushed 81 time for 731 yards, a nine-yard average. He also completed 30 passes for 530 yards. As a junior, he carried 55 times for 461 yards, an 8.4-yard average, and completed 23 passes for 328 yards.

On top of All-Conference and All-State honors his senior year, Horner was chosen to the high school All-American team and played in the All-American game in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas in the spring of 1962.

Horner also participated in baseball, basketball and track while in high school. He attended Oklahoma State University, Kaskaskia College, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and the University of Cincinnati. After college, he coached football for 20 years at O’Fallon, St. Charles, MO, Carlyle and Centralia. He restarted the football program at Carlyle after they had not had a . program for several years. He coached Centralia football for 12 years.