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^68
tvin
9
December, 1951
responsibility he feels toward his cU' ents — his insistence that the firm deliver on every promise made. This reflects the serious-minded strain beneath his jovial, congenial exterior. A benevolent, convivial, poker-playing back-slapper and hand-shaker, he is the sort who is always organizing a quartette at conventions and meetings. Yet he is a rare combination of extroverted salesman and astute, careful business man of great executive ability. He works long hours, day and night; keeps in touch with every project; personally visits all of them; and checks up continually to make sure that every job is proceeding as planned.
That's why he lives with his suitcase packed, ready to depart for a Black Veatch job anywhere on an hour's notice — or less. That's why he gave up pipe-smoking three years ago — ulcers, you know! Before that, he
always seemed to have a pipe in his mouth ! Tom prefers to travel by train, reading and working en route; but he flies quite a lot, v;hen speedy arrival is essential. At least half of his time is spent "on the job" away from the headquarters offices in Kansas City. When he is home, he is inclined to start leisurely in the mornings . . . take a group of six or eight younger men from the office to lunch (careful always to pick up the check) . . . and work nights to keep abreast of everything.
He's a big, rugged outdoor man; and if he could have his wish he'd probably like best to be a full-time cowboy. The combination of those traits led him, in 1933, to buy a farm where he could invest money as a hedge against the inflation he correctly warned was sure to come. The farm he chose consists of 900 acres in Douglas County, seventeen miles southwest of Lawrence, Kansas. He watched with amazement, and dismay at the cost, as 200 young men from a CCC camp spent two years creating what is now Lone Star Lake. But Tom gave thirty acres of land as part of the site, because neighboring farmers and Lawrence fishermen were promoting the 200-acre area as a state fish and game preserve, and as a county recreational project.
Nov/ he has a fine hilltop view from the rustic farm cabin designed for him by Edward Tanner — with an open porch on top and a covered deck from which to admire the lake and the countryside. In the pastures, 150 Hereford steers munch the succulent grass.