Tom Gauthier 

Tom is the sort of person who seems to prefer the background--he doesn’t really like the “Spotlight.”  That probably explains why such a dedicated and active Knight has not been discovered by this Spotlight until now.  It was at the invitation of Dave Tlachac about two years ago that Tom first became a part of the Knights.  Dave spoke to him about the organization and explained some of what the Knights were all about.  At the time, Tom felt he was looking for some means of deepening of his involvement in the life of the Church, but he wasn’t sure exactly which direction to go.  He was also looking for some involvement which was not strictly business related, and the Knights seemed to be a viable alternative.  He seemed to fit well into the Knights, and Fr. Al proposed him for the Fourth Degree in 1995. Tom advanced through that Degree at the exemplification in Green Bay, and he and his wife, Ann, also joined with several other Fourth Degree men and their families in support of our Council’s candidates this past April in Oconomowoc.

 

It was the community orientation of the Knights which drew Tom to the organization, and in his time with the Council has been involved in numerous activities such as the Tootsie Roll drive, Booyah sales, Free Throw competitions and ‘the famous Monica Project.’  Like many others, some of the things Tom finds special about the Knights is the camaraderie, and the variety of ages and backgrounds that make up the Council--people all working together toward a common goal:  “I like what they do and what they stand for.”  He sees the Knights as bringing something special to a world which sometimes seems so hectic that there is so little time even for family activities, and  he appreciates the emphasis of the Knights on the family and on community involvement.  He also notes that there is a special volunteer spirit present: “They’re not looking for recognition for what they do.  It comes from the heart.  Something needs to be done and is brought up at a meeting and twenty hands go up.” 

 

Born and bred in Green Bay, Tom has had close ties to the community all his life.  The day after his graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1976 he started working for his father Ervan at the company Tom has managed since 1985--Gauthier & Sons Construction.  He praises his father as his “Boss, business partner and best friend” and gives credit to his dad for bringing him into the operation of the company.  Ervan died in 1989, and Tom believes that his dad was comfortable with Tom’s ability to care for things. An average day for Tom begins around 6:00 AM in the office and usually lasts until about 5:30 in the evening, with about three nights a week taken up as well.  Typical of a man in charge, he spends a good deal of time as a ‘firefighter,’ handling problems as they arise.  The usual business of the day includes working on a lot of estimates.  He feels his job is made much easier by the fact that he is surrounded by good, capable people.  The company played a part in the construction of St. Bernard Church.

 

Tom and his wife Ann have been married for about five years now, and he believes the decision to marry Ann was the best move of his life.  Ann works at Younkers as a ‘floater’ after spending some time in cosmetics and Tom lavishly compliments her, especially her “great personality.”  In the time they have been a part of the Council 10243 family, they have brought a very special quality to the organization.  We have become the better for it.

June 1996