Tom Meyer
Former 84th State District Representative Tom Meyer, 65, of Colfax Township, passed away Monday, July 9, 2007 at Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe.
He was born on March 9, 1942 to the late James and Esther (Kraai) Meyer in Zeeland. On Sept. 6, 1963 he was united in marriage to Dorothian Teusink.
Mr. Meyer attended Grand Rapids Junior College and worked for WLAV radio station in Grand Rapids and WOWE radio station in Allegan right out of high school. He was a disc jockey and sports broadcaster for WLEW in Bad Axe from 1964-1999. In 2000 he was elected 84th District Michigan State Representative and served his term through 2006. He attended the Bad Axe Free Methodist Church and was a member of the Lions Club, Special Olympics Games Committee, the Thumb Industries board, the Huron County Michigan State University Extension board and past member of the Elkton Rotary. He enjoyed reading, watching sports and listening to classical music.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothian Meyer of Colfax Township; one son, Brian (Dawn) Meyer of Lapeer; one daughter, Pamela (Chris) Schantz of Bad Axe; two sisters, Mary Gray of Grand Rapids and Susan (Tom) VanSluyters of Lansing; five grandchildren, Stephanie, Jacquelyn, Courtney, Jordan and Dylan; two sisters-in-law, Mary Lou Lundblade of Wichita, Kan., and Georgian Sanders of Virginia; and several nieces and nephews.
Local legend leaves us
The Huron Daily Tribune
UPPER THUMB — He introduced himself to the Thumb over the airwaves with his booming but friendly voice. He showed his pride in the Thumb as a state legislator for three terms. He displayed his dedication to the Thumb as he openly talked — and listened — to anyone who approached him. He exhibited his deep care for the Thumb as he volunteered for various causes.
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He is Tom Meyer, and those who knew him best would say he's been one of the best allies the Thumb area could ever have.
Meyer died Monday at the age of 65. He leaves behind his wife, Dorothian; children, Brian and wife, Dawn, Pamela and husband, Chris; grandchildren, Stephanie, Jacquelyn, Courtney and twins Jordan and Dylan.
"He loved his family," said his wife, Dorothian. "He had tenacity and integrity. He would offer his opinion if he was asked, but he wasn't pushy about it. He was straightforward and he had high morals. He was a fun guy (and) he loved a joke. He loved being in politics, and he was considering running for the (state) Senate."
His radio years
Meyer started his radio career in the attic of his parents' home in Grand Rapids when he was a teenager, said Dorothian. He started the station with a friend, and the station broadcasted over an area of two blocks.
"The FCC shut them down because they weren't licensed," she said.
Meyer later worked for Stevens Wismer Broadcasting. He worked at WLAV in Grand Rapids, WOWE in Allegan, WHTC in Port Huron, and then WLEW, which was owned by Stevens Wismer Broadcasting until the early 1970s when it became Thumb Broadcasting.
Meyer worked at WLEW AM/FM from 1964 until 2000. He was the station manager and sports director from 1971 until November 2000, which was the year he became the 84th District state representative.
While at WLEW, Meyer was best known for his Saturday Morning Polka Party Show, his live remote broadcasts at various events, and his Friday night sports broadcasts. Indeed, he was the official "Voice of the Thumb."
"Tom was dedicated to his listeners during his 36-year profession at WLEW," said WLEW General Manager Richard Aymen. "Tom made sure our listeners were always on top of Thumb area news events as they were unfolding. When something major was going on in the Thumb, Tom would drop everything he was doing and was always first on the scene with his tape recorder, and in the later years, he had his cellular phone in hand calling reports back to the radio station. Tom prided himself in always making sure our listeners were the first to know what was going on in the Thumb area."
Aymen said even after Meyer left the station, he would still periodically call WLEW staff members when they mispronounced a name on the news or when something on the radio just didn't sound right.
"Our newer employees would ask, ‘Who's that guy that keeps calling and correcting me on the radio?'" he said. "We would say, ‘Tom Meyer is our outside station manager. In the 36 years Tom was with us, he earned that reputation. Whatever Tom tells you to do, just do it.' He will be missed by all his listeners, all his constituents, and all of us at WLEW."
One thing Meyer was known for is his sense of humor.
"Tom was a fun person to work with," said station Treasurer Nancy Aymen. "He always had a joke to brighten our day. His passion was local play-by-play sports announcing. Tom was not only a great employee, he was our friend."
"He was honest, hard working, and dedicated to the residents of the Thumb area," said station Vice President Matthew Aymen. "We will miss him."
WLEW Station Manager Ralph Iden said Meyer was the ultimate newshound.
"Tom came up with many news tips for the newsroom ... when I worked at WLEW as news director from 1975 to 1984," Iden said. "He always took lots of ribbing about the amount of time he spent in coffee shops around the county. He was a newshound at heart and he claimed he found many news leads there. He loved the debates, whether about politics or last night's high school football game."
Iden said at one time, Meyer said he might run for state governor, and Meyer even had his own coffee cup at Murphy's Bakery in Bad Axe that said "Governor Tom Meyer."
Iden said Meyer used to laugh about how Harbor Beach fans claimed Meyer favored Lakers while Lakers fans said Meyer favored Harbor Beach.
Craig Routzahn of WLEW AM/FM said Meyer hired him in 1975.
"He was friendly. He drove me around and showed me different places to rent," Routzahn said.
He said when Meyer was running for the state representative seat the first time, he was still working at the station but he couldn't be on the air because of equal time requirements by the FCC.
"It was a tough transition period," Routzahn said. "He felt bad that he couldn't do what he enjoyed doing."
Lynn Abke remembers the days of doing sports commentary of Thumb area basketball with Meyer.
"He had a great sense of humor and a great wit," Abke said. "Tom Meyer was really the voice of the Thumb, and he was born to do radio."
Abke also remembers 15 years of announcing the Bad Axe Rotary Radio Auction together. The two would heckle one another on the airwaves, but it would always be in fun, Abke said.
"We had a great time doing it (together)," he said. "I have many great memories, and I will really miss him. He will not be forgotten."
Congresswoman Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township, said Monday evening while visiting Huron County she was "shocked to hear about Meyer's death."
"He was the voice of the Thumb and a man who gave back to his community in any way he could," she said. "My thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
Mike Gage, former Huron County commissioner and sheriff, said Meyer also will be remembered for his voice.
"His voice was so well known and so recognized that I think he'll be remembered certainly for his radio work," he said.
State Rep. Terry Brown, D-Pigeon, said he first knew Meyer as a staple on WLEW. "He worked long and hard in that job and had a real dedication to it," he said. Huron County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert Haldane remembers Meyer first as a radio announcer, then as a community volunteer, and most recently as a neighbor.
"Only one house separated us. With no fences blocking our paths, if one of us heard a rumor about government or politics we would be crossing the neighbor's yard to compare stories," Haldane said. "Every time I finished a comment about a topic, Tom would answer with the same phrase, ‘Hmm ya, Ya.' After a thought process, he would then proceed to set me straight with his thoughts.
"When I was elected commissioner, he crossed the yard that night with his pipe just a smokin'. He shook my hand and said, ‘Now I suppose you're thinking about my job.' I looked Tom in the eye and said, ‘Absolutely not, your feet never touch the ground and you're on the road again.' Tom looked very sternly at me and said, ‘Hmm, ya.'"
Of course, Meyer will always be known as one of the Thumb's biggest sports aficionados. Jim Bollenbacher covered sports with Meyer on WLEW every Friday night for 20 years — two decades that won't be forgotten by Bollenbacher.
Together the two of them had a sense of when the other one wanted to talk on air, he said.
"We had such a great working relationship," Bollenbacher said. "He never criticized. I could walk all over him on a broadcast and he was never critical of it."
Bollenbacher said Meyer loved a good fish fry and the two would hit up a fish fry and a game when they could.
When the two were just starting to work together, Bollenbacher noticed Meyer had deep interest in politics.
"He had a deep sense of responsibility with the community," Bollenbacher said. "He wasn't scared to get his nose wet, get in there and say what he thought."
His state representative years
From 2000 to 2006, Meyer served Huron and Tuscola counties as state representative.
"Tom was a dedicated public servant with an easygoing personality and a real passion for public policy," said Sen. Jim Barcia, D-Bay City. "He was just an easy going fellow who could fashion a consensus when dealing with problems that legislators confront."
While he was a state representative, Meyer chaired the Agriculture and Resource Management Committee and also served on other committees, including Education, Great Lakes and Tourism, House Television and Oversight, and Tax Policy. Barcia said Meyer will be fondly remembered as a warm and friendly man who also was a great speaker and someone who could put an audience at ease.
"He was always very witty and always had a joke," Barcia said. "Sometimes they'd be a little corny, but they'd always get a laugh."
Having covered politics while working at WLEW, Meyer had always considered it quite an honor to be elected by the people, Barcia added.
"He was able to balance the responsibility of the office he held as well as his family obligations — he was a devoted husband and father," he said.
In Bad Axe City Manager John Nugent's eyes, Meyer was an Abraham Lincoln.
"He was a larger than life character," Nugent said. "If he had a beard and a top hat he could have been a stand in for him (Lincoln)."
Nugent said it wasn't only Meyer's tall, gangly frame, soft-spoken words and passion for politics that reminded him of the late president, but also his genuine interest in the community.
Nugent knew Meyer for 12 years and would discuss different issues with Meyer when he was politically involved — and he said Meyer was dedicated to his craft. Nugent said Meyer wasn't always familiar with some of the issues that came up, but was willing to conduct in-depth research and get people's opinions in order to make the best decision he could as state representative. Meyer wore his heart on his sleeve when he went to people on the issues he came across, Nugent said. "He was doing his homework," Nugent said. "You don't always see that in elected officials. They seem to think they know it all."
Nugent said Meyer was most proud of the legislation he introduced that made human torture a criminal offense punishable by life in prison.
Meyer was known for being very easy to talk to.
"I remember his accessibility. No matter who you are, he was accessible to everybody," said Bad Axe Public Schools Superintendent Jim Wencel. "He was in his district a lot. I knew if I ever needed to talk to him, I could just go to McDonald's Food and Family Center Saturday morning. Nine times out of 10, he'd be there."
Wencel, who is now president of the Bad Axe Rotary, remembers Meyer helping out with the Rotary Radio Auction, which was something Meyer did for many years. "He was a genuinely good person. He was a good servant for the people (of his district)," Wencel said.
He said Meyer would call him and ask him his opinion on various items, and no matter what the opinion was, Meyer would always listen. He said Meyer would use the information he gathered from his constituents and take it to fellow legislators. Meyer would go against other members of his caucus from time to time if he believed it was in the best interest of the area he served.
"I always found Tom to be very easy to approach and converse with," said Harbor Beach Community Schools Superintendent Ron Kraft. "I found him to be extremely committed to (the Thumb area). He was very proud of where he lived and what he did.
"We've just lost a quality human being," Kraft said.
"In so many ways, he cared so deeply about this area," said William Mayes, Michigan Association of School Administrators executive director and former Huron Intermediate School District superintendent. "He worked extremely hard for the people who elected him. I didn't always agree with him, but when politics got hot and heavy, I could always trust his word. He was always a gentleman. I really enjoyed a good working relationship with him. I considered him a dear friend."
Mayes said when he ran for state representative in 1980, Meyer wished him luck and said he, too, would like to someday be a state representative.
"He got to fulfill one of his dreams," Mayes said.
Many state and county officials remember Meyer as a dedicated legislator during his tenure serving the 84th District.
"Tom was always concerned about how things were going," said John Hunt, Huron County road commissioner. "He was a dedicated legislator and took care of the 84th District. He was not only concerned about the welfare of Huron County, but the 84th District as well."
"Tom's leadership on behalf of Michigan's agriculture industry was invaluable. He helped strengthen jobs for farmers in his district and across the state," House Republican Leader Craig DeRoche said in a press release. "Rep. Meyer was a steadfast supporter of the Thumb area and its people. He took tremendous pride in advocating for their needs, whether in agriculture, education or improving the economy."
Many remember Meyer's quick-witted nature and sense of humor.
"As well as being a serious legislator, Tom also provided great levity in the House chambers when the time was right," DeRoche said. "He was known for his many funny remarks on the floor, especially during lighthearted debates when lawmakers were getting their first bills approved."
The Michigan House of Representatives is planning a memorial in honor of Meyer.
His other activities
Another way Meyer served the Thumb was through volunteering. One of his volunteer activities was with the Michigan Special Olympics for 15 years, 10 years as event coordinator. Jim Hornak, Special Olympics Michigan Board member, said Meyer and his wife ran an event primarily for ramp bowlers and different age groups of those with intellectual disabilities at the summer state games. He said Meyer and his wife were tremendous members of the Games Committee, noting Meyer announced all of the awards while she handled the organization side of things.
"You couldn't find a person that had a bigger heart or more dedication to put in time to benefit those who are intellectually disabled — and he was really good at what he did," he said. "The thing I recollect most is his voice for the microphone or the radio was just phenomenal, and he was able to dress up an award like it was the best thing to ever happen to a person. Special Olympics Michigan is going to really miss him."
Meyer will be remembered by many as a generous and community oriented individual.
"Tom had a special ability in involving people in his conversations," said Lowell McDonald. "He was a great community minded guy. He was always busy and spent quite a bit of time doing good things to help other people."
Meyer represented McDonald's Food and Family Center annually at the Special Olympics spring games in Mt. Pleasant for 25 years, McDonald said.
"He was the leader representing our store for 25 years," he said. "Spartan Stores couldn't put the games on without volunteers like Tom. It was the one thing he did every year, never failed."
Meyer worked part time at McDonald's store when he moved to Bad Axe and spent many mornings in the deli's coffee shop, McDonald said. In recent years, Meyer became a leader of the McDonald's Deli coffee club and would frequent the shop while he was in town.
"He was one of our most faithful coffee drinkers," McDonald said. "I could check my watch and always see him over there (in the coffee shop) with coffee and a doughnut."
Meyer also served as a member of the Davenport University Board of Trustees and the Huron County State University Extension Council; treasurer of the Huron County Republican Party Executive Committee; board president of Thumb Industries; past treasurer for his church; and president of the Elkton Rotary Club.
Former 84th State District Representative Tom Meyer, 65, of Colfax Township, passed away Monday, July 9, 2007 at Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe.
He was born on March 9, 1942 to the late James and Esther (Kraai) Meyer in Zeeland. On Sept. 6, 1963 he was united in marriage to Dorothian Teusink.
Mr. Meyer attended Grand Rapids Junior College and worked for WLAV radio station in Grand Rapids and WOWE radio station in Allegan right out of high school. He was a disc jockey and sports broadcaster for WLEW in Bad Axe from 1964-1999. In 2000 he was elected 84th District Michigan State Representative and served his term through 2006. He attended the Bad Axe Free Methodist Church and was a member of the Lions Club, Special Olympics Games Committee, the Thumb Industries board, the Huron County Michigan State University Extension board and past member of the Elkton Rotary. He enjoyed reading, watching sports and listening to classical music.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothian Meyer of Colfax Township; one son, Brian (Dawn) Meyer of Lapeer; one daughter, Pamela (Chris) Schantz of Bad Axe; two sisters, Mary Gray of Grand Rapids and Susan (Tom) VanSluyters of Lansing; five grandchildren, Stephanie, Jacquelyn, Courtney, Jordan and Dylan; two sisters-in-law, Mary Lou Lundblade of Wichita, Kan., and Georgian Sanders of Virginia; and several nieces and nephews.
Local legend leaves us
The Huron Daily Tribune
UPPER THUMB — He introduced himself to the Thumb over the airwaves with his booming but friendly voice. He showed his pride in the Thumb as a state legislator for three terms. He displayed his dedication to the Thumb as he openly talked — and listened — to anyone who approached him. He exhibited his deep care for the Thumb as he volunteered for various causes.
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He is Tom Meyer, and those who knew him best would say he's been one of the best allies the Thumb area could ever have.
Meyer died Monday at the age of 65. He leaves behind his wife, Dorothian; children, Brian and wife, Dawn, Pamela and husband, Chris; grandchildren, Stephanie, Jacquelyn, Courtney and twins Jordan and Dylan.
"He loved his family," said his wife, Dorothian. "He had tenacity and integrity. He would offer his opinion if he was asked, but he wasn't pushy about it. He was straightforward and he had high morals. He was a fun guy (and) he loved a joke. He loved being in politics, and he was considering running for the (state) Senate."
His radio years
Meyer started his radio career in the attic of his parents' home in Grand Rapids when he was a teenager, said Dorothian. He started the station with a friend, and the station broadcasted over an area of two blocks.
"The FCC shut them down because they weren't licensed," she said.
Meyer later worked for Stevens Wismer Broadcasting. He worked at WLAV in Grand Rapids, WOWE in Allegan, WHTC in Port Huron, and then WLEW, which was owned by Stevens Wismer Broadcasting until the early 1970s when it became Thumb Broadcasting.
Meyer worked at WLEW AM/FM from 1964 until 2000. He was the station manager and sports director from 1971 until November 2000, which was the year he became the 84th District state representative.
While at WLEW, Meyer was best known for his Saturday Morning Polka Party Show, his live remote broadcasts at various events, and his Friday night sports broadcasts. Indeed, he was the official "Voice of the Thumb."
"Tom was dedicated to his listeners during his 36-year profession at WLEW," said WLEW General Manager Richard Aymen. "Tom made sure our listeners were always on top of Thumb area news events as they were unfolding. When something major was going on in the Thumb, Tom would drop everything he was doing and was always first on the scene with his tape recorder, and in the later years, he had his cellular phone in hand calling reports back to the radio station. Tom prided himself in always making sure our listeners were the first to know what was going on in the Thumb area."
Aymen said even after Meyer left the station, he would still periodically call WLEW staff members when they mispronounced a name on the news or when something on the radio just didn't sound right.
"Our newer employees would ask, ‘Who's that guy that keeps calling and correcting me on the radio?'" he said. "We would say, ‘Tom Meyer is our outside station manager. In the 36 years Tom was with us, he earned that reputation. Whatever Tom tells you to do, just do it.' He will be missed by all his listeners, all his constituents, and all of us at WLEW."
One thing Meyer was known for is his sense of humor.
"Tom was a fun person to work with," said station Treasurer Nancy Aymen. "He always had a joke to brighten our day. His passion was local play-by-play sports announcing. Tom was not only a great employee, he was our friend."
"He was honest, hard working, and dedicated to the residents of the Thumb area," said station Vice President Matthew Aymen. "We will miss him."
WLEW Station Manager Ralph Iden said Meyer was the ultimate newshound.
"Tom came up with many news tips for the newsroom ... when I worked at WLEW as news director from 1975 to 1984," Iden said. "He always took lots of ribbing about the amount of time he spent in coffee shops around the county. He was a newshound at heart and he claimed he found many news leads there. He loved the debates, whether about politics or last night's high school football game."
Iden said at one time, Meyer said he might run for state governor, and Meyer even had his own coffee cup at Murphy's Bakery in Bad Axe that said "Governor Tom Meyer."
Iden said Meyer used to laugh about how Harbor Beach fans claimed Meyer favored Lakers while Lakers fans said Meyer favored Harbor Beach.
Craig Routzahn of WLEW AM/FM said Meyer hired him in 1975.
"He was friendly. He drove me around and showed me different places to rent," Routzahn said.
He said when Meyer was running for the state representative seat the first time, he was still working at the station but he couldn't be on the air because of equal time requirements by the FCC.
"It was a tough transition period," Routzahn said. "He felt bad that he couldn't do what he enjoyed doing."
Lynn Abke remembers the days of doing sports commentary of Thumb area basketball with Meyer.
"He had a great sense of humor and a great wit," Abke said. "Tom Meyer was really the voice of the Thumb, and he was born to do radio."
Abke also remembers 15 years of announcing the Bad Axe Rotary Radio Auction together. The two would heckle one another on the airwaves, but it would always be in fun, Abke said.
"We had a great time doing it (together)," he said. "I have many great memories, and I will really miss him. He will not be forgotten."
Congresswoman Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township, said Monday evening while visiting Huron County she was "shocked to hear about Meyer's death."
"He was the voice of the Thumb and a man who gave back to his community in any way he could," she said. "My thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
Mike Gage, former Huron County commissioner and sheriff, said Meyer also will be remembered for his voice.
"His voice was so well known and so recognized that I think he'll be remembered certainly for his radio work," he said.
State Rep. Terry Brown, D-Pigeon, said he first knew Meyer as a staple on WLEW. "He worked long and hard in that job and had a real dedication to it," he said. Huron County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert Haldane remembers Meyer first as a radio announcer, then as a community volunteer, and most recently as a neighbor.
"Only one house separated us. With no fences blocking our paths, if one of us heard a rumor about government or politics we would be crossing the neighbor's yard to compare stories," Haldane said. "Every time I finished a comment about a topic, Tom would answer with the same phrase, ‘Hmm ya, Ya.' After a thought process, he would then proceed to set me straight with his thoughts.
"When I was elected commissioner, he crossed the yard that night with his pipe just a smokin'. He shook my hand and said, ‘Now I suppose you're thinking about my job.' I looked Tom in the eye and said, ‘Absolutely not, your feet never touch the ground and you're on the road again.' Tom looked very sternly at me and said, ‘Hmm, ya.'"
Of course, Meyer will always be known as one of the Thumb's biggest sports aficionados. Jim Bollenbacher covered sports with Meyer on WLEW every Friday night for 20 years — two decades that won't be forgotten by Bollenbacher.
Together the two of them had a sense of when the other one wanted to talk on air, he said.
"We had such a great working relationship," Bollenbacher said. "He never criticized. I could walk all over him on a broadcast and he was never critical of it."
Bollenbacher said Meyer loved a good fish fry and the two would hit up a fish fry and a game when they could.
When the two were just starting to work together, Bollenbacher noticed Meyer had deep interest in politics.
"He had a deep sense of responsibility with the community," Bollenbacher said. "He wasn't scared to get his nose wet, get in there and say what he thought."
His state representative years
From 2000 to 2006, Meyer served Huron and Tuscola counties as state representative.
"Tom was a dedicated public servant with an easygoing personality and a real passion for public policy," said Sen. Jim Barcia, D-Bay City. "He was just an easy going fellow who could fashion a consensus when dealing with problems that legislators confront."
While he was a state representative, Meyer chaired the Agriculture and Resource Management Committee and also served on other committees, including Education, Great Lakes and Tourism, House Television and Oversight, and Tax Policy. Barcia said Meyer will be fondly remembered as a warm and friendly man who also was a great speaker and someone who could put an audience at ease.
"He was always very witty and always had a joke," Barcia said. "Sometimes they'd be a little corny, but they'd always get a laugh."
Having covered politics while working at WLEW, Meyer had always considered it quite an honor to be elected by the people, Barcia added.
"He was able to balance the responsibility of the office he held as well as his family obligations — he was a devoted husband and father," he said.
In Bad Axe City Manager John Nugent's eyes, Meyer was an Abraham Lincoln.
"He was a larger than life character," Nugent said. "If he had a beard and a top hat he could have been a stand in for him (Lincoln)."
Nugent said it wasn't only Meyer's tall, gangly frame, soft-spoken words and passion for politics that reminded him of the late president, but also his genuine interest in the community.
Nugent knew Meyer for 12 years and would discuss different issues with Meyer when he was politically involved — and he said Meyer was dedicated to his craft. Nugent said Meyer wasn't always familiar with some of the issues that came up, but was willing to conduct in-depth research and get people's opinions in order to make the best decision he could as state representative. Meyer wore his heart on his sleeve when he went to people on the issues he came across, Nugent said. "He was doing his homework," Nugent said. "You don't always see that in elected officials. They seem to think they know it all."
Nugent said Meyer was most proud of the legislation he introduced that made human torture a criminal offense punishable by life in prison.
Meyer was known for being very easy to talk to.
"I remember his accessibility. No matter who you are, he was accessible to everybody," said Bad Axe Public Schools Superintendent Jim Wencel. "He was in his district a lot. I knew if I ever needed to talk to him, I could just go to McDonald's Food and Family Center Saturday morning. Nine times out of 10, he'd be there."
Wencel, who is now president of the Bad Axe Rotary, remembers Meyer helping out with the Rotary Radio Auction, which was something Meyer did for many years. "He was a genuinely good person. He was a good servant for the people (of his district)," Wencel said.
He said Meyer would call him and ask him his opinion on various items, and no matter what the opinion was, Meyer would always listen. He said Meyer would use the information he gathered from his constituents and take it to fellow legislators. Meyer would go against other members of his caucus from time to time if he believed it was in the best interest of the area he served.
"I always found Tom to be very easy to approach and converse with," said Harbor Beach Community Schools Superintendent Ron Kraft. "I found him to be extremely committed to (the Thumb area). He was very proud of where he lived and what he did.
"We've just lost a quality human being," Kraft said.
"In so many ways, he cared so deeply about this area," said William Mayes, Michigan Association of School Administrators executive director and former Huron Intermediate School District superintendent. "He worked extremely hard for the people who elected him. I didn't always agree with him, but when politics got hot and heavy, I could always trust his word. He was always a gentleman. I really enjoyed a good working relationship with him. I considered him a dear friend."
Mayes said when he ran for state representative in 1980, Meyer wished him luck and said he, too, would like to someday be a state representative.
"He got to fulfill one of his dreams," Mayes said.
Many state and county officials remember Meyer as a dedicated legislator during his tenure serving the 84th District.
"Tom was always concerned about how things were going," said John Hunt, Huron County road commissioner. "He was a dedicated legislator and took care of the 84th District. He was not only concerned about the welfare of Huron County, but the 84th District as well."
"Tom's leadership on behalf of Michigan's agriculture industry was invaluable. He helped strengthen jobs for farmers in his district and across the state," House Republican Leader Craig DeRoche said in a press release. "Rep. Meyer was a steadfast supporter of the Thumb area and its people. He took tremendous pride in advocating for their needs, whether in agriculture, education or improving the economy."
Many remember Meyer's quick-witted nature and sense of humor.
"As well as being a serious legislator, Tom also provided great levity in the House chambers when the time was right," DeRoche said. "He was known for his many funny remarks on the floor, especially during lighthearted debates when lawmakers were getting their first bills approved."
The Michigan House of Representatives is planning a memorial in honor of Meyer.
His other activities
Another way Meyer served the Thumb was through volunteering. One of his volunteer activities was with the Michigan Special Olympics for 15 years, 10 years as event coordinator. Jim Hornak, Special Olympics Michigan Board member, said Meyer and his wife ran an event primarily for ramp bowlers and different age groups of those with intellectual disabilities at the summer state games. He said Meyer and his wife were tremendous members of the Games Committee, noting Meyer announced all of the awards while she handled the organization side of things.
"You couldn't find a person that had a bigger heart or more dedication to put in time to benefit those who are intellectually disabled — and he was really good at what he did," he said. "The thing I recollect most is his voice for the microphone or the radio was just phenomenal, and he was able to dress up an award like it was the best thing to ever happen to a person. Special Olympics Michigan is going to really miss him."
Meyer will be remembered by many as a generous and community oriented individual.
"Tom had a special ability in involving people in his conversations," said Lowell McDonald. "He was a great community minded guy. He was always busy and spent quite a bit of time doing good things to help other people."
Meyer represented McDonald's Food and Family Center annually at the Special Olympics spring games in Mt. Pleasant for 25 years, McDonald said.
"He was the leader representing our store for 25 years," he said. "Spartan Stores couldn't put the games on without volunteers like Tom. It was the one thing he did every year, never failed."
Meyer worked part time at McDonald's store when he moved to Bad Axe and spent many mornings in the deli's coffee shop, McDonald said. In recent years, Meyer became a leader of the McDonald's Deli coffee club and would frequent the shop while he was in town.
"He was one of our most faithful coffee drinkers," McDonald said. "I could check my watch and always see him over there (in the coffee shop) with coffee and a doughnut."
Meyer also served as a member of the Davenport University Board of Trustees and the Huron County State University Extension Council; treasurer of the Huron County Republican Party Executive Committee; board president of Thumb Industries; past treasurer for his church; and president of the Elkton Rotary Club.
Tom Meyer
Former 84th State District Representative Tom Meyer, 65, of Colfax Township, passed away Monday, July 9, 2007 at Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe.
He was born on March 9, 1942 to the late James and Esther (Kraai) Meyer in Zeeland. On Sept. 6, 1963 he was united in marriage to Dorothian Teusink.
Mr. Meyer attended Grand Rapids Junior College and worked for WLAV radio station in Grand Rapids and WOWE radio station in Allegan right out of high school. He was a disc jockey and sports broadcaster for WLEW in Bad Axe from 1964-1999. In 2000 he was elected 84th District Michigan State Representative and served his term through 2006. He attended the Bad Axe Free Methodist Church and was a member of the Lions Club, Special Olympics Games Committee, the Thumb Industries board, the Huron County Michigan State University Extension board and past member of the Elkton Rotary. He enjoyed reading, watching sports and listening to classical music.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothian Meyer of Colfax Township; one son, Brian (Dawn) Meyer of Lapeer; one daughter, Pamela (Chris) Schantz of Bad Axe; two sisters, Mary Gray of Grand Rapids and Susan (Tom) VanSluyters of Lansing; five grandchildren, Stephanie, Jacquelyn, Courtney, Jordan and Dylan; two sisters-in-law, Mary Lou Lundblade of Wichita, Kan., and Georgian Sanders of Virginia; and several nieces and nephews.
Local legend leaves us
The Huron Daily Tribune
UPPER THUMB — He introduced himself to the Thumb over the airwaves with his booming but friendly voice. He showed his pride in the Thumb as a state legislator for three terms. He displayed his dedication to the Thumb as he openly talked — and listened — to anyone who approached him. He exhibited his deep care for the Thumb as he volunteered for various causes.
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He is Tom Meyer, and those who knew him best would say he's been one of the best allies the Thumb area could ever have.
Meyer died Monday at the age of 65. He leaves behind his wife, Dorothian; children, Brian and wife, Dawn, Pamela and husband, Chris; grandchildren, Stephanie, Jacquelyn, Courtney and twins Jordan and Dylan.
"He loved his family," said his wife, Dorothian. "He had tenacity and integrity. He would offer his opinion if he was asked, but he wasn't pushy about it. He was straightforward and he had high morals. He was a fun guy (and) he loved a joke. He loved being in politics, and he was considering running for the (state) Senate."
His radio years
Meyer started his radio career in the attic of his parents' home in Grand Rapids when he was a teenager, said Dorothian. He started the station with a friend, and the station broadcasted over an area of two blocks.
"The FCC shut them down because they weren't licensed," she said.
Meyer later worked for Stevens Wismer Broadcasting. He worked at WLAV in Grand Rapids, WOWE in Allegan, WHTC in Port Huron, and then WLEW, which was owned by Stevens Wismer Broadcasting until the early 1970s when it became Thumb Broadcasting.
Meyer worked at WLEW AM/FM from 1964 until 2000. He was the station manager and sports director from 1971 until November 2000, which was the year he became the 84th District state representative.
While at WLEW, Meyer was best known for his Saturday Morning Polka Party Show, his live remote broadcasts at various events, and his Friday night sports broadcasts. Indeed, he was the official "Voice of the Thumb."
"Tom was dedicated to his listeners during his 36-year profession at WLEW," said WLEW General Manager Richard Aymen. "Tom made sure our listeners were always on top of Thumb area news events as they were unfolding. When something major was going on in the Thumb, Tom would drop everything he was doing and was always first on the scene with his tape recorder, and in the later years, he had his cellular phone in hand calling reports back to the radio station. Tom prided himself in always making sure our listeners were the first to know what was going on in the Thumb area."
Aymen said even after Meyer left the station, he would still periodically call WLEW staff members when they mispronounced a name on the news or when something on the radio just didn't sound right.
"Our newer employees would ask, ‘Who's that guy that keeps calling and correcting me on the radio?'" he said. "We would say, ‘Tom Meyer is our outside station manager. In the 36 years Tom was with us, he earned that reputation. Whatever Tom tells you to do, just do it.' He will be missed by all his listeners, all his constituents, and all of us at WLEW."
One thing Meyer was known for is his sense of humor.
"Tom was a fun person to work with," said station Treasurer Nancy Aymen. "He always had a joke to brighten our day. His passion was local play-by-play sports announcing. Tom was not only a great employee, he was our friend."
"He was honest, hard working, and dedicated to the residents of the Thumb area," said station Vice President Matthew Aymen. "We will miss him."
WLEW Station Manager Ralph Iden said Meyer was the ultimate newshound.
"Tom came up with many news tips for the newsroom ... when I worked at WLEW as news director from 1975 to 1984," Iden said. "He always took lots of ribbing about the amount of time he spent in coffee shops around the county. He was a newshound at heart and he claimed he found many news leads there. He loved the debates, whether about politics or last night's high school football game."
Iden said at one time, Meyer said he might run for state governor, and Meyer even had his own coffee cup at Murphy's Bakery in Bad Axe that said "Governor Tom Meyer."
Iden said Meyer used to laugh about how Harbor Beach fans claimed Meyer favored Lakers while Lakers fans said Meyer favored Harbor Beach.
Craig Routzahn of WLEW AM/FM said Meyer hired him in 1975.
"He was friendly. He drove me around and showed me different places to rent," Routzahn said.
He said when Meyer was running for the state representative seat the first time, he was still working at the station but he couldn't be on the air because of equal time requirements by the FCC.
"It was a tough transition period," Routzahn said. "He felt bad that he couldn't do what he enjoyed doing."
Lynn Abke remembers the days of doing sports commentary of Thumb area basketball with Meyer.
"He had a great sense of humor and a great wit," Abke said. "Tom Meyer was really the voice of the Thumb, and he was born to do radio."
Abke also remembers 15 years of announcing the Bad Axe Rotary Radio Auction together. The two would heckle one another on the airwaves, but it would always be in fun, Abke said.
"We had a great time doing it (together)," he said. "I have many great memories, and I will really miss him. He will not be forgotten."
Congresswoman Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township, said Monday evening while visiting Huron County she was "shocked to hear about Meyer's death."
"He was the voice of the Thumb and a man who gave back to his community in any way he could," she said. "My thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
Mike Gage, former Huron County commissioner and sheriff, said Meyer also will be remembered for his voice.
"His voice was so well known and so recognized that I think he'll be remembered certainly for his radio work," he said.
State Rep. Terry Brown, D-Pigeon, said he first knew Meyer as a staple on WLEW. "He worked long and hard in that job and had a real dedication to it," he said. Huron County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert Haldane remembers Meyer first as a radio announcer, then as a community volunteer, and most recently as a neighbor.
"Only one house separated us. With no fences blocking our paths, if one of us heard a rumor about government or politics we would be crossing the neighbor's yard to compare stories," Haldane said. "Every time I finished a comment about a topic, Tom would answer with the same phrase, ‘Hmm ya, Ya.' After a thought process, he would then proceed to set me straight with his thoughts.
"When I was elected commissioner, he crossed the yard that night with his pipe just a smokin'. He shook my hand and said, ‘Now I suppose you're thinking about my job.' I looked Tom in the eye and said, ‘Absolutely not, your feet never touch the ground and you're on the road again.' Tom looked very sternly at me and said, ‘Hmm, ya.'"
Of course, Meyer will always be known as one of the Thumb's biggest sports aficionados. Jim Bollenbacher covered sports with Meyer on WLEW every Friday night for 20 years — two decades that won't be forgotten by Bollenbacher.
Together the two of them had a sense of when the other one wanted to talk on air, he said.
"We had such a great working relationship," Bollenbacher said. "He never criticized. I could walk all over him on a broadcast and he was never critical of it."
Bollenbacher said Meyer loved a good fish fry and the two would hit up a fish fry and a game when they could.
When the two were just starting to work together, Bollenbacher noticed Meyer had deep interest in politics.
"He had a deep sense of responsibility with the community," Bollenbacher said. "He wasn't scared to get his nose wet, get in there and say what he thought."
His state representative years
From 2000 to 2006, Meyer served Huron and Tuscola counties as state representative.
"Tom was a dedicated public servant with an easygoing personality and a real passion for public policy," said Sen. Jim Barcia, D-Bay City. "He was just an easy going fellow who could fashion a consensus when dealing with problems that legislators confront."
While he was a state representative, Meyer chaired the Agriculture and Resource Management Committee and also served on other committees, including Education, Great Lakes and Tourism, House Television and Oversight, and Tax Policy. Barcia said Meyer will be fondly remembered as a warm and friendly man who also was a great speaker and someone who could put an audience at ease.
"He was always very witty and always had a joke," Barcia said. "Sometimes they'd be a little corny, but they'd always get a laugh."
Having covered politics while working at WLEW, Meyer had always considered it quite an honor to be elected by the people, Barcia added.
"He was able to balance the responsibility of the office he held as well as his family obligations — he was a devoted husband and father," he said.
In Bad Axe City Manager John Nugent's eyes, Meyer was an Abraham Lincoln.
"He was a larger than life character," Nugent said. "If he had a beard and a top hat he could have been a stand in for him (Lincoln)."
Nugent said it wasn't only Meyer's tall, gangly frame, soft-spoken words and passion for politics that reminded him of the late president, but also his genuine interest in the community.
Nugent knew Meyer for 12 years and would discuss different issues with Meyer when he was politically involved — and he said Meyer was dedicated to his craft. Nugent said Meyer wasn't always familiar with some of the issues that came up, but was willing to conduct in-depth research and get people's opinions in order to make the best decision he could as state representative. Meyer wore his heart on his sleeve when he went to people on the issues he came across, Nugent said. "He was doing his homework," Nugent said. "You don't always see that in elected officials. They seem to think they know it all."
Nugent said Meyer was most proud of the legislation he introduced that made human torture a criminal offense punishable by life in prison.
Meyer was known for being very easy to talk to.
"I remember his accessibility. No matter who you are, he was accessible to everybody," said Bad Axe Public Schools Superintendent Jim Wencel. "He was in his district a lot. I knew if I ever needed to talk to him, I could just go to McDonald's Food and Family Center Saturday morning. Nine times out of 10, he'd be there."
Wencel, who is now president of the Bad Axe Rotary, remembers Meyer helping out with the Rotary Radio Auction, which was something Meyer did for many years. "He was a genuinely good person. He was a good servant for the people (of his district)," Wencel said.
He said Meyer would call him and ask him his opinion on various items, and no matter what the opinion was, Meyer would always listen. He said Meyer would use the information he gathered from his constituents and take it to fellow legislators. Meyer would go against other members of his caucus from time to time if he believed it was in the best interest of the area he served.
"I always found Tom to be very easy to approach and converse with," said Harbor Beach Community Schools Superintendent Ron Kraft. "I found him to be extremely committed to (the Thumb area). He was very proud of where he lived and what he did.
"We've just lost a quality human being," Kraft said.
"In so many ways, he cared so deeply about this area," said William Mayes, Michigan Association of School Administrators executive director and former Huron Intermediate School District superintendent. "He worked extremely hard for the people who elected him. I didn't always agree with him, but when politics got hot and heavy, I could always trust his word. He was always a gentleman. I really enjoyed a good working relationship with him. I considered him a dear friend."
Mayes said when he ran for state representative in 1980, Meyer wished him luck and said he, too, would like to someday be a state representative.
"He got to fulfill one of his dreams," Mayes said.
Many state and county officials remember Meyer as a dedicated legislator during his tenure serving the 84th District.
"Tom was always concerned about how things were going," said John Hunt, Huron County road commissioner. "He was a dedicated legislator and took care of the 84th District. He was not only concerned about the welfare of Huron County, but the 84th District as well."
"Tom's leadership on behalf of Michigan's agriculture industry was invaluable. He helped strengthen jobs for farmers in his district and across the state," House Republican Leader Craig DeRoche said in a press release. "Rep. Meyer was a steadfast supporter of the Thumb area and its people. He took tremendous pride in advocating for their needs, whether in agriculture, education or improving the economy."
Many remember Meyer's quick-witted nature and sense of humor.
"As well as being a serious legislator, Tom also provided great levity in the House chambers when the time was right," DeRoche said. "He was known for his many funny remarks on the floor, especially during lighthearted debates when lawmakers were getting their first bills approved."
The Michigan House of Representatives is planning a memorial in honor of Meyer.
His other activities
Another way Meyer served the Thumb was through volunteering. One of his volunteer activities was with the Michigan Special Olympics for 15 years, 10 years as event coordinator. Jim Hornak, Special Olympics Michigan Board member, said Meyer and his wife ran an event primarily for ramp bowlers and different age groups of those with intellectual disabilities at the summer state games. He said Meyer and his wife were tremendous members of the Games Committee, noting Meyer announced all of the awards while she handled the organization side of things.
"You couldn't find a person that had a bigger heart or more dedication to put in time to benefit those who are intellectually disabled — and he was really good at what he did," he said. "The thing I recollect most is his voice for the microphone or the radio was just phenomenal, and he was able to dress up an award like it was the best thing to ever happen to a person. Special Olympics Michigan is going to really miss him."
Meyer will be remembered by many as a generous and community oriented individual.
"Tom had a special ability in involving people in his conversations," said Lowell McDonald. "He was a great community minded guy. He was always busy and spent quite a bit of time doing good things to help other people."
Meyer represented McDonald's Food and Family Center annually at the Special Olympics spring games in Mt. Pleasant for 25 years, McDonald said.
"He was the leader representing our store for 25 years," he said. "Spartan Stores couldn't put the games on without volunteers like Tom. It was the one thing he did every year, never failed."
Meyer worked part time at McDonald's store when he moved to Bad Axe and spent many mornings in the deli's coffee shop, McDonald said. In recent years, Meyer became a leader of the McDonald's Deli coffee club and would frequent the shop while he was in town.
"He was one of our most faithful coffee drinkers," McDonald said. "I could check my watch and always see him over there (in the coffee shop) with coffee and a doughnut."
Meyer also served as a member of the Davenport University Board of Trustees and the Huron County State University Extension Council; treasurer of the Huron County Republican Party Executive Committee; board president of Thumb Industries; past treasurer for his church; and president of the Elkton Rotary Club.
Former 84th State District Representative Tom Meyer, 65, of Colfax Township, passed away Monday, July 9, 2007 at Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe.
He was born on March 9, 1942 to the late James and Esther (Kraai) Meyer in Zeeland. On Sept. 6, 1963 he was united in marriage to Dorothian Teusink.
Mr. Meyer attended Grand Rapids Junior College and worked for WLAV radio station in Grand Rapids and WOWE radio station in Allegan right out of high school. He was a disc jockey and sports broadcaster for WLEW in Bad Axe from 1964-1999. In 2000 he was elected 84th District Michigan State Representative and served his term through 2006. He attended the Bad Axe Free Methodist Church and was a member of the Lions Club, Special Olympics Games Committee, the Thumb Industries board, the Huron County Michigan State University Extension board and past member of the Elkton Rotary. He enjoyed reading, watching sports and listening to classical music.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothian Meyer of Colfax Township; one son, Brian (Dawn) Meyer of Lapeer; one daughter, Pamela (Chris) Schantz of Bad Axe; two sisters, Mary Gray of Grand Rapids and Susan (Tom) VanSluyters of Lansing; five grandchildren, Stephanie, Jacquelyn, Courtney, Jordan and Dylan; two sisters-in-law, Mary Lou Lundblade of Wichita, Kan., and Georgian Sanders of Virginia; and several nieces and nephews.
Local legend leaves us
The Huron Daily Tribune
UPPER THUMB — He introduced himself to the Thumb over the airwaves with his booming but friendly voice. He showed his pride in the Thumb as a state legislator for three terms. He displayed his dedication to the Thumb as he openly talked — and listened — to anyone who approached him. He exhibited his deep care for the Thumb as he volunteered for various causes.
Advertisement
He is Tom Meyer, and those who knew him best would say he's been one of the best allies the Thumb area could ever have.
Meyer died Monday at the age of 65. He leaves behind his wife, Dorothian; children, Brian and wife, Dawn, Pamela and husband, Chris; grandchildren, Stephanie, Jacquelyn, Courtney and twins Jordan and Dylan.
"He loved his family," said his wife, Dorothian. "He had tenacity and integrity. He would offer his opinion if he was asked, but he wasn't pushy about it. He was straightforward and he had high morals. He was a fun guy (and) he loved a joke. He loved being in politics, and he was considering running for the (state) Senate."
His radio years
Meyer started his radio career in the attic of his parents' home in Grand Rapids when he was a teenager, said Dorothian. He started the station with a friend, and the station broadcasted over an area of two blocks.
"The FCC shut them down because they weren't licensed," she said.
Meyer later worked for Stevens Wismer Broadcasting. He worked at WLAV in Grand Rapids, WOWE in Allegan, WHTC in Port Huron, and then WLEW, which was owned by Stevens Wismer Broadcasting until the early 1970s when it became Thumb Broadcasting.
Meyer worked at WLEW AM/FM from 1964 until 2000. He was the station manager and sports director from 1971 until November 2000, which was the year he became the 84th District state representative.
While at WLEW, Meyer was best known for his Saturday Morning Polka Party Show, his live remote broadcasts at various events, and his Friday night sports broadcasts. Indeed, he was the official "Voice of the Thumb."
"Tom was dedicated to his listeners during his 36-year profession at WLEW," said WLEW General Manager Richard Aymen. "Tom made sure our listeners were always on top of Thumb area news events as they were unfolding. When something major was going on in the Thumb, Tom would drop everything he was doing and was always first on the scene with his tape recorder, and in the later years, he had his cellular phone in hand calling reports back to the radio station. Tom prided himself in always making sure our listeners were the first to know what was going on in the Thumb area."
Aymen said even after Meyer left the station, he would still periodically call WLEW staff members when they mispronounced a name on the news or when something on the radio just didn't sound right.
"Our newer employees would ask, ‘Who's that guy that keeps calling and correcting me on the radio?'" he said. "We would say, ‘Tom Meyer is our outside station manager. In the 36 years Tom was with us, he earned that reputation. Whatever Tom tells you to do, just do it.' He will be missed by all his listeners, all his constituents, and all of us at WLEW."
One thing Meyer was known for is his sense of humor.
"Tom was a fun person to work with," said station Treasurer Nancy Aymen. "He always had a joke to brighten our day. His passion was local play-by-play sports announcing. Tom was not only a great employee, he was our friend."
"He was honest, hard working, and dedicated to the residents of the Thumb area," said station Vice President Matthew Aymen. "We will miss him."
WLEW Station Manager Ralph Iden said Meyer was the ultimate newshound.
"Tom came up with many news tips for the newsroom ... when I worked at WLEW as news director from 1975 to 1984," Iden said. "He always took lots of ribbing about the amount of time he spent in coffee shops around the county. He was a newshound at heart and he claimed he found many news leads there. He loved the debates, whether about politics or last night's high school football game."
Iden said at one time, Meyer said he might run for state governor, and Meyer even had his own coffee cup at Murphy's Bakery in Bad Axe that said "Governor Tom Meyer."
Iden said Meyer used to laugh about how Harbor Beach fans claimed Meyer favored Lakers while Lakers fans said Meyer favored Harbor Beach.
Craig Routzahn of WLEW AM/FM said Meyer hired him in 1975.
"He was friendly. He drove me around and showed me different places to rent," Routzahn said.
He said when Meyer was running for the state representative seat the first time, he was still working at the station but he couldn't be on the air because of equal time requirements by the FCC.
"It was a tough transition period," Routzahn said. "He felt bad that he couldn't do what he enjoyed doing."
Lynn Abke remembers the days of doing sports commentary of Thumb area basketball with Meyer.
"He had a great sense of humor and a great wit," Abke said. "Tom Meyer was really the voice of the Thumb, and he was born to do radio."
Abke also remembers 15 years of announcing the Bad Axe Rotary Radio Auction together. The two would heckle one another on the airwaves, but it would always be in fun, Abke said.
"We had a great time doing it (together)," he said. "I have many great memories, and I will really miss him. He will not be forgotten."
Congresswoman Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township, said Monday evening while visiting Huron County she was "shocked to hear about Meyer's death."
"He was the voice of the Thumb and a man who gave back to his community in any way he could," she said. "My thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
Mike Gage, former Huron County commissioner and sheriff, said Meyer also will be remembered for his voice.
"His voice was so well known and so recognized that I think he'll be remembered certainly for his radio work," he said.
State Rep. Terry Brown, D-Pigeon, said he first knew Meyer as a staple on WLEW. "He worked long and hard in that job and had a real dedication to it," he said. Huron County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert Haldane remembers Meyer first as a radio announcer, then as a community volunteer, and most recently as a neighbor.
"Only one house separated us. With no fences blocking our paths, if one of us heard a rumor about government or politics we would be crossing the neighbor's yard to compare stories," Haldane said. "Every time I finished a comment about a topic, Tom would answer with the same phrase, ‘Hmm ya, Ya.' After a thought process, he would then proceed to set me straight with his thoughts.
"When I was elected commissioner, he crossed the yard that night with his pipe just a smokin'. He shook my hand and said, ‘Now I suppose you're thinking about my job.' I looked Tom in the eye and said, ‘Absolutely not, your feet never touch the ground and you're on the road again.' Tom looked very sternly at me and said, ‘Hmm, ya.'"
Of course, Meyer will always be known as one of the Thumb's biggest sports aficionados. Jim Bollenbacher covered sports with Meyer on WLEW every Friday night for 20 years — two decades that won't be forgotten by Bollenbacher.
Together the two of them had a sense of when the other one wanted to talk on air, he said.
"We had such a great working relationship," Bollenbacher said. "He never criticized. I could walk all over him on a broadcast and he was never critical of it."
Bollenbacher said Meyer loved a good fish fry and the two would hit up a fish fry and a game when they could.
When the two were just starting to work together, Bollenbacher noticed Meyer had deep interest in politics.
"He had a deep sense of responsibility with the community," Bollenbacher said. "He wasn't scared to get his nose wet, get in there and say what he thought."
His state representative years
From 2000 to 2006, Meyer served Huron and Tuscola counties as state representative.
"Tom was a dedicated public servant with an easygoing personality and a real passion for public policy," said Sen. Jim Barcia, D-Bay City. "He was just an easy going fellow who could fashion a consensus when dealing with problems that legislators confront."
While he was a state representative, Meyer chaired the Agriculture and Resource Management Committee and also served on other committees, including Education, Great Lakes and Tourism, House Television and Oversight, and Tax Policy. Barcia said Meyer will be fondly remembered as a warm and friendly man who also was a great speaker and someone who could put an audience at ease.
"He was always very witty and always had a joke," Barcia said. "Sometimes they'd be a little corny, but they'd always get a laugh."
Having covered politics while working at WLEW, Meyer had always considered it quite an honor to be elected by the people, Barcia added.
"He was able to balance the responsibility of the office he held as well as his family obligations — he was a devoted husband and father," he said.
In Bad Axe City Manager John Nugent's eyes, Meyer was an Abraham Lincoln.
"He was a larger than life character," Nugent said. "If he had a beard and a top hat he could have been a stand in for him (Lincoln)."
Nugent said it wasn't only Meyer's tall, gangly frame, soft-spoken words and passion for politics that reminded him of the late president, but also his genuine interest in the community.
Nugent knew Meyer for 12 years and would discuss different issues with Meyer when he was politically involved — and he said Meyer was dedicated to his craft. Nugent said Meyer wasn't always familiar with some of the issues that came up, but was willing to conduct in-depth research and get people's opinions in order to make the best decision he could as state representative. Meyer wore his heart on his sleeve when he went to people on the issues he came across, Nugent said. "He was doing his homework," Nugent said. "You don't always see that in elected officials. They seem to think they know it all."
Nugent said Meyer was most proud of the legislation he introduced that made human torture a criminal offense punishable by life in prison.
Meyer was known for being very easy to talk to.
"I remember his accessibility. No matter who you are, he was accessible to everybody," said Bad Axe Public Schools Superintendent Jim Wencel. "He was in his district a lot. I knew if I ever needed to talk to him, I could just go to McDonald's Food and Family Center Saturday morning. Nine times out of 10, he'd be there."
Wencel, who is now president of the Bad Axe Rotary, remembers Meyer helping out with the Rotary Radio Auction, which was something Meyer did for many years. "He was a genuinely good person. He was a good servant for the people (of his district)," Wencel said.
He said Meyer would call him and ask him his opinion on various items, and no matter what the opinion was, Meyer would always listen. He said Meyer would use the information he gathered from his constituents and take it to fellow legislators. Meyer would go against other members of his caucus from time to time if he believed it was in the best interest of the area he served.
"I always found Tom to be very easy to approach and converse with," said Harbor Beach Community Schools Superintendent Ron Kraft. "I found him to be extremely committed to (the Thumb area). He was very proud of where he lived and what he did.
"We've just lost a quality human being," Kraft said.
"In so many ways, he cared so deeply about this area," said William Mayes, Michigan Association of School Administrators executive director and former Huron Intermediate School District superintendent. "He worked extremely hard for the people who elected him. I didn't always agree with him, but when politics got hot and heavy, I could always trust his word. He was always a gentleman. I really enjoyed a good working relationship with him. I considered him a dear friend."
Mayes said when he ran for state representative in 1980, Meyer wished him luck and said he, too, would like to someday be a state representative.
"He got to fulfill one of his dreams," Mayes said.
Many state and county officials remember Meyer as a dedicated legislator during his tenure serving the 84th District.
"Tom was always concerned about how things were going," said John Hunt, Huron County road commissioner. "He was a dedicated legislator and took care of the 84th District. He was not only concerned about the welfare of Huron County, but the 84th District as well."
"Tom's leadership on behalf of Michigan's agriculture industry was invaluable. He helped strengthen jobs for farmers in his district and across the state," House Republican Leader Craig DeRoche said in a press release. "Rep. Meyer was a steadfast supporter of the Thumb area and its people. He took tremendous pride in advocating for their needs, whether in agriculture, education or improving the economy."
Many remember Meyer's quick-witted nature and sense of humor.
"As well as being a serious legislator, Tom also provided great levity in the House chambers when the time was right," DeRoche said. "He was known for his many funny remarks on the floor, especially during lighthearted debates when lawmakers were getting their first bills approved."
The Michigan House of Representatives is planning a memorial in honor of Meyer.
His other activities
Another way Meyer served the Thumb was through volunteering. One of his volunteer activities was with the Michigan Special Olympics for 15 years, 10 years as event coordinator. Jim Hornak, Special Olympics Michigan Board member, said Meyer and his wife ran an event primarily for ramp bowlers and different age groups of those with intellectual disabilities at the summer state games. He said Meyer and his wife were tremendous members of the Games Committee, noting Meyer announced all of the awards while she handled the organization side of things.
"You couldn't find a person that had a bigger heart or more dedication to put in time to benefit those who are intellectually disabled — and he was really good at what he did," he said. "The thing I recollect most is his voice for the microphone or the radio was just phenomenal, and he was able to dress up an award like it was the best thing to ever happen to a person. Special Olympics Michigan is going to really miss him."
Meyer will be remembered by many as a generous and community oriented individual.
"Tom had a special ability in involving people in his conversations," said Lowell McDonald. "He was a great community minded guy. He was always busy and spent quite a bit of time doing good things to help other people."
Meyer represented McDonald's Food and Family Center annually at the Special Olympics spring games in Mt. Pleasant for 25 years, McDonald said.
"He was the leader representing our store for 25 years," he said. "Spartan Stores couldn't put the games on without volunteers like Tom. It was the one thing he did every year, never failed."
Meyer worked part time at McDonald's store when he moved to Bad Axe and spent many mornings in the deli's coffee shop, McDonald said. In recent years, Meyer became a leader of the McDonald's Deli coffee club and would frequent the shop while he was in town.
"He was one of our most faithful coffee drinkers," McDonald said. "I could check my watch and always see him over there (in the coffee shop) with coffee and a doughnut."
Meyer also served as a member of the Davenport University Board of Trustees and the Huron County State University Extension Council; treasurer of the Huron County Republican Party Executive Committee; board president of Thumb Industries; past treasurer for his church; and president of the Elkton Rotary Club.
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