IKE THOMAS— A MAN OF MANY HATS

By Suz Trusty

Editor’s Note: Turf News asked Past President Ike Tomas to look back over his career in the turfgrass industry to share highlights from the past and his vision for TPI in the future.

development and we thought we would try this crazy idea of growing turfgrass.” A former dairy employee and friend, Teodore Mund, had headed to south Texas after graduating from college and established a sod business, Alboa Company, in Needville. “He was doing well in it and had often encouraged us to try it,” says Ike. “So, in 1970, we did, even though we knew little about growing turfgrass.” It was a new venture in an industry still in its infancy.

The Thomas Family: Front row (kids left-right): Pierce, Henry, Benjamin, Claire, Levi, Kate; Back row (adults left-right): son Ryan, Anne, Trisha, Ike Thomas, Kimberly, son Justin. Photo courtesy of the Thomas Family.

While you’ve most likely seen Ike Tomas in a cowboy hat, he wears many hats in the business world. His family business, the Tomas Group, owns and manages “several— seven, or maybe eight,” at last count. Te Tomas Group— Ike and his wife, Trisha, and their sons, Ryan and Justin— have business ventures in multiple categories. Teir business cards list: Real Estate, Turfgrass, Mining and Drill Tools. Ike Tomas served as the American Sod Producers Association (ASPA) President in 1985-1986.

The Early Years Te Tomas family started as dairy farmers in Hood County, Texas, in the early 1900s. Like most of those growing up in a farm-related family business, Ike worked and learned during his school years. After graduating from Granbury High School, he went to Texas Tech in Lubbock, TX, on a football scholarship, majoring in business. Ike stayed active in the family business during his college years.

Te Brazos River ran through the Tomas property. Ike says, “In the late 1960s, the State dammed up the river to create a lake, which took most of our dairy farm. We sold the dairy and built lake lots along the shores.” Tat was their start in real estate.

“We had about ten acres left over that didn’t fit the 86

Ike says, “Tere were no “how to” books on sod production back in the day. We were building the business A to Z, sort of winging it, and had to learn everything. Ten we heard about ASPA and decided that would be the best connection

for education and practical advice. We joined in 1972 and my Dad and Mom (E. A. and Frances) went to the ASPA Conference that year.”

Ike and Trisha married in 1972. In 1973, he earned his degree in business finance. By then, he and his grandfather (Emory, Sr.), his dad and his three brothers— Emory, Mark and Mike—had formed Tomas Bros. Grass.

Ike says, “Several of us went to the ASPA Conference in 1973 and started really getting involved. It made such a huge difference. Te educational sessions were great and the sharing of ideas and expertise among the members was even better. We could see the latest innovations in products and equipment and talk to the suppliers and other growers about them.”

He recalls seeing the Brouwer harvester demonstrated in the early 70s, calling it a huge game changer over the walk- behind Ryan sod cutter. “It took us a while to buy one,” he says. “We should have done it sooner. Te second big thing was the Spyder portable ride-on forklift that attached to the truck or trailer. It streamlined sod delivery; eliminated a second truck and crew. We bought one of the first Spyder forklifts after seeing it at the summer convention in Kansas City in 1975; it was number six.”

TPI Turf News November/December 2016