Tom Moore

Honored October, 2015

Tom Moore

A true Santa Fe icon. Tom is the third generation of family owners of Moore’s Mens Store, Santa Fe’s finest haberdashery on the plaza. Tom Moore is one of the last living merchants of our old Santa Fe Plaza and from his front row seat, he watched history in the making.  Tom was the heart and soul of the downtown merchants and their efforts to serve the citizens of Santa Fe, not only as a business people, but as citizens deeply involved in the community.

    Tom was a successful businessman and an entrepreneur. As a business leader, Tom represented Santa Fe on the national level, an example of many roles he held— president of the Menswear Retailers of America, Executive Director of the Menswear Retailers of American in Washington, D.C. He was the first Santa Fe businessman  to use television advertising and color adds in the newspaper. As founder of the Downtown Retail Merchants association, he developed the Park and Shop program, which gave free parking to shoppers downtown.  He helped start the tradition of decorating the plaza portals for Christmas.

    A great boss, Tom helped store employees with College tuition.  Recently he invited his former employees to lunch to see them again, and tell them how much he appreciate working with them. One loyal customer, now a grown man, relates what a big deal it was as a young boy buying his formal clothes at Moore’s where he was treated with respect and treated like a grown up. It was a place he said, to get advice on how to make a good impression and how to project confidence.

    Tom has been a member of the “Mens’ La Fonda Coffee Bunch” for years.  These men, the old timers, and some new timers, enjoy their weekly time together supporting each other through life’s trials and tribulations. Newcomers relate how grateful they are to Tom for sharing his appreciation of Santa Fe and its rich history.

    Tom  was always willing to lend his helping hand to endeavors that have kept Santa Fe vital. He embodies the Rotary Clubs’ motto, “Service above Self” He was a leader in the Santa Fe Parking Authority, Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Better Business Bureau. He served on bank boards, library boards, was a member of Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club and was a  Mason.  Tom served as a Trustee and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church. As first Executive Director of the St. Vincent Hospital Foundation, he spearheaded fundraising for the Cancer Treatment Center and helped with creating Santa Fe’s first Kidney Dialysis facility. Today he is the oldest member of Voces de Santa Fe, a group that shares and archives stories of Santa Fe and northern New Mexico communities.  Most recently he volunteers in the schools, reading to elementary school students.

    Tom’s son wrote his father is one of the greatest examples of what it means to truly love and support someone. In everything he does, Tom’s guiding principle has always been to treat others as you would like to be treated. He is loved, respected, admired, and cherished for all he has done, and for who he is.  And he has a wicked sense of humor.

Story by Nancy Dahl

Photo © 2015 by Genevieve Russell