|
 The
son of an oilman, Tom was born in Texas but grew up in Louisiana,
graduating from LSU in 1971. The day of his college graduation, he
moved to NYC for the summer when, at the age of 21, he was introduced
to and became part of the leather community. Tom graduated from
Rutgers Law School and became a member of the bar in 1974. He
practiced environmental law on the East Coast and in Europe at the
federal, state and international levels before moving to SF in 1979
to start his own solo practice.
In
1980 he participated in his first SF fundraiser, a talent show to
benefit the VD clinic. He made an impression on SF's gay and leather
communities by performing his own piano transcription of Bach's
Toccata and Fugue in D minor in full leather on the stage of the
Castro Theatre. From this modest beginning, Tom helped a variety of
groups and individuals.
He's
been a board member of or legal counsel to various gay and AIDS
organizations and has been recognized as an outstanding volunteer by
both the California State Bar and the SF Bar Association for his pro
bono services to the homeless, elderly and people with AIDS. He is
one of the founders of, regular volunteers for and a mentor to the
AIDS Legal Referral Panel, a worldwide model for AIDS legal services agencies.
With
the death of his best friend from AIDS in 1985, Tom channeled his
frustration with the epidemic by intensifying his public activities.
He became a member of the Castro Lions, the first openly gay and
lesbian Lions Club, and subsequently launched its annual leather
auction, an event he continues to organize and auctioneer 22 years
later, recycling leather within the community. Upon winning the title
of SF Leather Daddy IV in 1986 he helped any charity or charitable
fundraising event that could use his assistance, becoming, among
other things, an auctioneer of some talent. Unlike many of the
titleholders of the period, Tom continued to be an active participant
in fundraising and community activities upon the selection of his
successor, Zach Long, a precedent to which most of the succeeding
SFLDs have aspired.
He's
been a member of the same gym since 1980, and after coming in second
at the very first Bare Chest contest held in 1984, he finally won a
spot on the 1991 Bare Chest calendar. He was a participant in the
1988 IML contest, placing among the top 20 competitors.
At
the insistence of his physician, Tom retired from his full time law
practice in 1995, though he continues his pro bono legal activities.
He began a new career that same year, opening his home as a
guesthouse to SF visitors. He continues to contribute his time,
talent and money to charitable and community activities proving that
even though he's been HIV+ for 30 years he can be a hunky, healthy,
helpful and happy member of the gay community. |
