Moore, Thomas Milliken, Sr. (1925-2020)
Dates
- Existence: 1925 - 2020
Biography
Thomas Milliken Moore, a true gentleman, known for his ease and charm, and unwavering optimism, died of sarcoma Tuesday, December 29th, 2020, at his home in St. Louis, Missouri. He was 95. A businessman and philanthropist, he was known for his numerous contributions to the St. Louis Community, including the Milliken Hand Rehabilitation Center, formed more than 60 years ago. In 1978, he gave the original bell in the bell tower at St. Peters Episcopal Church, in honor of his brother, William. In 1980, he established the Harriette M. (Milliken) and William G. (Gillespie) Moore Fund for Financial Aid at St. Louis Country Day School (MICDS), in honor of his parents. In 1982, he gave a greenhouse to the Missouri Botanical Garden for educational purposes for the children.
The youngest of three boys, he discovered a love for birds early. This inspired him to join the Audubon Society and regularly to wake up at 4:00 a.m., to identify birds in Forest Park. Although these early morning expeditions made it difficult for him to stay awake in class, in 1943, he graduated from St. Louis Country Day School. In 1944, Mr. Moore joined the 4th Infantry Division and sailed to Europe on the Queen Mary to participate in World War II. Upon his return, he attended Brown University, graduating in 1949, when he started his career as a printing salesman in St. Louis, which led him to form Milliken Publishing Company, an educational company that revolutionized primary school curriculum in 1960.
Continuing to expand his interests, along with Marlin Perkins in 1963, he established the first zoo ball (Zoofari), now a huge biennial fundraiser and wildly popular event. In 1970, Mr. Moore founded Milliken Land and Cattle Corporation, in Meeker, Colorado, becoming a part-time rancher with cattle, horses, llamas, and a camel named Humphrey.
"Tommy," or "Bones," lived a long happy, and healthy life and took great pleasure in his friends and family, frequently sharing world travel adventures. He equally enjoyed the simple pleasures: picnics in the rolling hills of Augusta, Missouri, planting trees wherever possible, and feeding hummingbirds on his patio. Tommy will be remembered for his kind and gentle nature, his even keel, his sense of humor, and his enormous curiosity about the world.
He is survived by his wife, "Kitsy," of forty years, Kate Borders Moore, three children from his first marriage: Thomas Milliken Moore, Jr., Michael Gillespie Moore (Susan Giese), and Irene Johnson Moore (Francisco Rodriguez), five grandchildren, and two stepchildren, Kate Thompson Glazer and Morton Shane Glazer, Jr., and one step-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, William Gillespie Moore, Jr., and John Wooten Moore.
Contributions can be made to the St. Louis Zoo Association, 1 Government Dr., St. Louis, MO 63110, The National Audubon Society, 225 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014, or Save The Redwoods, 111 Sutter Street, 11th floor, San Francisco, CA 94104.
Source: https://www.luptonchapel.com/obituary/thomas-m-moore
Gender
- Male