| Life Story
|
Tom Kay III was the final owner and general manager of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. He began work at the mill at the age of 15, learned the different jobs and manufacturing processes. Then, after his return from military service, managed its closure and preservation as an intact historic industrial complex.
Thomas Benton Kay was born 10 Sep 1923 in Salem, OR to parents Ercel Wallace and Eleanor Sarah [Fellows] Kay. He was the only child born to the couple. He attended public schools in Salem, followed by secondary education at the University of Oregon. The family owned a home at 1525 Fairmount Ave.
At fifteen years old, Tom worked summers at the family woolen mill to learn the different steps of the manufacturing process in a hands-on education. This experience and his willingness to learn from the seasoned millworkers forged a bond of respect and loyalty with them. In Tom’s sophomore year at the University of Oregon he enlisted in the U.S. Army. It was December 7, 1942, a year to the day of the infamous Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. His draft registration card gave a physical description of Tom at the age of 18. His height was 5 ft. 11 in. And weight 150 lbs. His complexion was light. His hair and eyes were brown.
Tom was first assigned to the West Point Military Academy and then sent overseas in June 1944 where he landed with Allied forces on the Normandy Coast on D-Day. He would later receive a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. At the end of the war, he returned to graduate from the University of Oregon, and remained in the U.S. Army Reserve. He returned to active duty during the Korean Conflict in 1950. He was stationed in Japan for two years.
Tom married Shirley Leupe Scott on 12 Oct 1956 in Salem, OR. Shirley was a medical secretary almost ten years younger than Tom. They were married in a quiet ceremony at the Englewood Evangelical United Brethren church before members of their immediate family and a few close friends. They would become the parents of four children: Andrew, Susan, Terrence and Tom.
After his final discharge from the military, Tom returned to the woolen mill as general manager. With the advent of synthetic fibers and reduced woolen sales, it was a futile effort. But Tom’s efforts to keep a portion of the plant running, with a skeleton work force, would make it possible to preserve the historic industrial complex and eventually transfer it to those who would give it new purpose as a museum. Tom then turned his attention to a carpet brokerage business and to the Salem Golf Club organized by his father in 1926.
Tom Kay died 18 May 2018 in Salem, OR. He was buried in Belcrest Memorial Park. |
| Salem City Directories |
1942 Kay Thomas B, student, 1525 Fairmount Ave
1945 Kay Thomas B, USA, 1525 Fairmount
1947 Kay Thomas B, shipping clerk, TKWM Co, 1525 Fairmount
1949 Kay Thomas B, salesman, TKWM Co, 1525 Fairmount
1951 Kay Thomas B, USA, 1525 Fairmount Ave
1953 Kay Thomas B, assistant manager, Thos. Kay Woolen Mill, 1525 Fairmount
1955 Kay Thomas B, manager, Thos. Kay Woolen Mill, 1525 Fairmount
1957 Kay Thomas B (Shirley), manager, Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, 3608 Hillview Dr SE
1959 Kay Thos. B Jr. (Shirley), secretary-treasurer, Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, 3608 Hillview Dr. SE
1960 Kay, Thos. B Jr. (Shirley), secretary-treasurer, Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, 3608 Hillview Dr SE
1961 Kay, Thos. B Jr. (Shirley), secretary-treasurer, Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, 3608 Hillview Dr SE
1962 Kay, Thos. B Jr. (Shirley), secretary-treasurer, Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, 3608 Hillview Dr SE
1963 Kay, Thos. B Jr. (Shirley), secretary-treasurer, Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, 3608 Hillview Dr SE
1964 Kay, Thos. B Jr. (Shirley), secretary-treasurer, Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, 3608 Hillview Dr SE
1971 Kay Thos B Jr (Shirley M) president, Thos Kay Woolen Mill Co, 1690 Saginaw St S
1974 Kay Thos B Jr (Shirley M) president, Thos Kay Carpets, 1690 Saginaw St S
1975 Kay Thos B Jr (Shirley M) president, Thos Kay Carpets, 1690 Saginaw St S
1988 Kay Thos B Jr (Salem Golf Club), 1690 Saginaw St S |
| Census Records |
1930 Thomas B. Kay. Age: 6. Birth Year: abt 1924 in Oregon. Single, son to HOH. Home in 1930: 1525 Fairmont St., Salem, Marion, OR. Additional household members: Ercel W. Kay, age 40 (father), Eleanor S. Kay, age 31 (mother).
1940 Tom B. Kay. Age: 15. Birth Year: abt 1925 in Oregon. Single, son to HOH. Home in 1940: 1525 Fairmount St., Salem, Marion, OR. Additional household members: Ercel W. Kay, age 50 (father), Eleanor S. Kay, age 41 (mother).
1950 Thomas B. Kay. Age: 26. Birth Date: abt 1924 in Oregon. Single, son to HOH. Home in 1950: 1525 Fairmount St. Salem, Marion, OR. Occupation: Assistant Manager, Woolen Mills. Additional household members: none. |
| Digital Newspapers
|
Capital Journal 25 Aug 1941, p. 12 – 900 Students Select U of O
Capital Journal 15 Jan 1945, p. 4 – Private First Class, awarded Purple Heart
Capital Journal 22 May 1946, p. 11 – Elected Student Body President
Capital Journal 19 Oct 1950, p. 2 – 240 Oregonians Being Processed
Oregon Statesman 13 Oct 1945, p. 6 – Marriage
Statesman Journal 5 Apr 2018, C1 – Part of the History, Tom Kay co-owner of Salem Golf Club
Statesman Journal 3 Jun 2018, p. D5 – Obituary |
| WHC Materials
|
M3 1966-001 Mill Records
1975-017-0001 TKWM Minute Book (with Saltzman)
M3 1992-105-0006 Photo
M3 1992-105-0008-10 Photos
M3 1994-016 Oral History Interviews (TKWM employees)
L 2002-0011 Typescript, Interview (with Duniway)
2018.077.0002 Typescript, Interview (with Saltzman)
2010.076.0001 DVD, interview and tour of mill
X2012.028.0057 Centennial Reflections: Memories of Warp and
Weft (Tom Kay speaker)
2019.018 Thomas B. Kay Collection
M3 1992-029-0001 Quilt, wool sampler
M3 2004-001-0001 Bible
M3 2002-003-0003 Shirt
2009.061.0001 Yearbook, 1941 Clarion |
