A Driving Force: Tom Clary's Impact on Business and Community

October 26, 2026 - 11:51

The Iowa Great Lakes region lost four visionary business leaders in the span of five short months. Toby Shine. Butch Parks. Tom Clary. Lewis Casson.

Tom Clary built a reputation as a man who competed hard and gave back harder. His drive to succeed carried him through decades of business ventures, and his commitment to the community matched that ambition step for step.

Clary understood that a thriving business climate and a strong community were not separate goals but two sides of the same coin. He invested his time and resources in local causes, supported civic efforts, and encouraged others to do the same. Those who worked alongside him remember a leader who expected the best from people and often got it.

His competitive nature was never about winning for its own sake. It was about pushing forward, raising standards, and leaving things better than he found them. That mindset shaped the businesses he helped grow and the organizations he championed.

The loss of Clary, along with Shine, Parks, and Casson, marks the end of an era for the lakes area. Each of these leaders left a distinct mark, and together they represent a generation that built much of the region's economic and civic foundation.

For those who knew Tom Clary, his legacy is clear in the enterprises he strengthened and the community he served. His competitive spirit lives on in the people he mentored and the institutions he supported.