Board Spotlight: Local Stories from the Board of Directors
John Mitterholzer, Deshea Agee, Michael Wagler, Chris Wilson, and Mary Helmer Worth share stories from their time at the local level and how those experiences shape their perspectives today.
Main Street Friends,
It is with deep sadness that I share the news that Tom Moriarity, one of the founders of the Main Street Movement, passed away earlier this week.
Tom served as one of the three original program directors of the Main Street pilot project in Madison, Indiana, from 1977 to 1980. After the unprecedented success of the three-year pilot program under his leadership, Tom joined the National Trust for Historic Preservation to apply and codify lessons learned during his time on the ground. Today, this is what we all recognize as the Main Street Four Point Approach. Trained as an architect, Tom was a force for the revitalization of commercial districts not only through Main Street but also through his work in countries throughout the world.
Tom’s legacy lives on in the thousands of communities that he touched. But, above all, Tom was a generous and kind human being. He touched so many lives, and I want to share a few tributes from my fellow Main Street leaders who were honored to call him a treasured colleague and friend over the years.
Tom was a creative force on the small team that field-tested and co-created the Main Street Approach. Most in the Main Street field know of its wide adoption by more than 1600 communities across the country. What few know of is the unbreakable bond that formed among the four of us: Scott Gerloff, Clark Schoettle, Tom and me in those challenging years, a friendship like no other I’ve known. His leadership in advancing economically sound historic preservation is only part of the legacy he leaves behind.
Tom was the epitome of humor, brains, and charm. He had the warmest smile, the most delightful laugh, and the most mischievous twinkle in his eye. He had a gift for making big ideas easy to understand. And he had a gift for making people feel empowered to make their communities better.
Tom’s love for Main Street was unmistakable — he radiated pride in our communities and enthusiasm for their future to anyone who raised the subject. In his role as a member of the 1772 Foundation board of directors, Tom continued to champion the work of Main Street communities. He played an instrumental role in supporting the launch Main Street America as an independent subsidiary of the National Trust, and in the creation of RePurpose Capital, a new sister subsidiary of Main Street America that provides financing to small-scale projects. His generosity of spirit and steadfast encouragement leave a lasting mark.
I only had the privilege of getting to know Tom in the last two years, and I’m so glad I did. His passion was infectious. He told me that the Main Street movement is his legacy, and I see that every day in the joy we all bring to this work. There’s no one quite like Tom, but I do see the twinkle of his eyes in the eyes of Main Street directors every day.
I hope all of you will join me in remembering and honoring Tom.
Sincerely,
Erin Barnes
President and CEO
Main Street America
The National Trust for Historic Preservation anointed Tom along with Mary Means, Scott Gerloff, and Clark Schoettle as “Founders of Main Street,” giving them a Preservation Honor Award in 2004. (Pictured left to right)
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