The first, and only, time I met Tom Hormel, he was barefoot. I think the reason that sticks with me is because I was nervous about meeting a man I thought of as a celebrity, but that I really knew nothing about personally. His family’s history was the basis of my job and I revered his heritage and he was barefoot. He was real, and he was welcoming and he made me feel at home. And he didn’t stop smiling.

My relationship with Tom began in 2015 as he was starting the process of publishing his grandfather’s autobiography, “The Open Road.”  Our conversations revolved around the mission and purpose of the Hormel Historic Home and I felt like Tom’s curiosity about his past was being awakened. I was full of questions, and a casual comment about interviewing him in person became a reality when he invited me to Florida for that purpose. Along with a board member, I sat with Tom and his brother, Jim, and we talked about their upbringing, their parents, their feelings about Austin and even their childhood pets. We were welcomed into Tom’s home as if we’d known each other for years. He was real.

I was recently invited to Florida again by Tom’s staff. This time it was for a memorial in Tom’s honor as he had passed away on Feb. 2, one day before his 89th birthday. A concert of Tom’s music compositions had already been planned, and that event grew into a celebration of his life in addition to his music. Again, accompanied by an HHH board member, I learned about Tom’s life through the reflections of others. Friends and colleagues spoke about how he had impacted their lives. In many cases Tom had chosen to invest in projects, and in the process, he became friends with many passionate, intelligent, and talented people. His friends told of the lessons they learned from Tom.

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“Don’t assume anything.”

“Take responsibility.”

“Do something new.”

“The arts make people grow.”

“Answers to problems can be found though the participation in music and art.”

Tom’s granddaughter said that Tom’s gifts included his desire to inspire people to create and to make people laugh and to celebrate life. She said he wanted to heal people, and that he believed that there was no time in life for excuses.

I didn’t say anything at the service, but if I had had the opportunity, I would have said that Tom made an impact on the Hormel Historic Home through his interest in our organization and through investments from the Thomas D. Hormel Foundation. We may not be solving the Earth’s environmental problems, but Tom saw value in what we are trying to do, which is to preserve the past while looking toward the future to serve the community. We are an old house, but this house can teach. We are a venue, but our venue can serve. We are a resource that sees opportunity and isn’t afraid to try something new.

Tom’s belief in the HHH has allowed us to start building some financial stability for the future, but maybe more importantly, his belief has given us the opportunity to think beyond today’s bills and to see the potential for future service. We are hosting more nutrition programs because Tom found value in eating well. We are able to host an autism conference this summer because he believed that would benefit our community. We are taking care of large maintenance projects to ensure the house continues to stand for years to come.

Tom’s childhood memories of life in Austin included typical activities like ice skating and horseback riding. They also included a feeling of being different because he was being raised differently. The life into which Tom and his brothers were born was one of privilege and opportunity. The boys were exposed to cultures and lifestyles that weren’t typical of most boys their age in Austin. They left town to go to private boarding schools. They were introduced to other boys from successful families and they were given chances to explore the arts.

Although Geordie called Austin home for a period of his adulthood, the boys were able to create homes in other parts of the country. Tom lived in places like California, Hawaii, Idaho, and Florida. He traveled the world and filled his life with people, projects, and passion. But it all started in Austin, Minnesota. This is where he learned to skate and to cook, and where his musical career began. “Oscar the Turtle” was said to be one of his first songs.

Meeting Tom has been a highlight of my position with the Hormel Historic Home. Getting to know him through personal contact and through the words of others has influenced me both professionally and personally. Through our mission areas, we hope to continue being a part of things that make Austin and the Hormel family proud.

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What’s Happening at the HHH

History Happy Hour: History of Baseball in Austin

• 5:30 p.m. social, 6 p.m. presentation, Monday, April 8
• Presented by Paul Spyhalski, local author and researcher. Hear about Austin’s history in the Southern Minny League from Austin’s state championship in 1942 through the war years to Austin’s next state championship team in 1949. Free for members of the HHH, Mower County Historical Society, and Friends of the Library.  $5 for nonmembers

Stepping Out for Austim Walk — Be an autism superhero

• 1-3 p.m. Sunday, April 14
• Join us as we celebrate and fundraise for ASD programming. Register by Thursday, April 4, to guarantee your t-shirt. $15 for adults and $10 for children. Entertainment by The Baron of Bubble. Lunch sponsored by Pizza Ranch. Prizes for creative costuming and fundraising provided by the Holiday Inn.