Tom’s health care career has spanned 46 years, beginning with work as an orderly at the University of Minnesota Hospital in 1963 to his final position as Secretary of Veterans Affairs for California, overseeing the care of 1,400 veterans in 3 State Veterans Homes from 2004 through 2009. In between those two periods Tom was the Chief Executive Officer in 3 community hospitals, most importantly Kaweah Delta District Hospital in Visalia where he served for 29 years; 21 as the CEO. While there, Kaweah Delta was recognized as the top hospital in the nation in 2000 for excellence in community service.

Tom has been active in numerous local or statewide organizations including the Boys and Girls Club of the Sequoias, Visalia Breakfast Rotary, Health Impact, First Presbyterian Church.

In 2000 Tom received the Good Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America and in 2009 the California Legion of Merit Medal from the Military Department of the State of California. Tom was named as Visalia’s Man of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce in 2016.

Tom holds a BA Degree from the University of Minnesota and an MPH Degree from UCLA. Tom served in the U.S. Army on active duty from 1967 to 1970 and in the reserves from 1970 to 1973. Tom is married to Betty, a retired teacher at Highland Elementary School. They have been married for 49 years and have 3 children and 9 grandchildren.