Farrell Cole "Dutch" Gay, 89, of Springfield, died at 11:45 p.m. on Monday, March 27, 2023, at Cedarhurst of Springfield.
Farrell was born in Albia, Iowa, on July 13, 1933, the son of Eugene V. Gay and Naomi Cole Gay. Graduating from Franklin High School in Cedar Rapids, IA, he entered Coe College in 1951 on a scholarship gifted by a member of his church. He studied art. Farrell helped to support his scholarship by mopping floors and cleaning locker rooms in season, and painting houses for the college in the off season. He was a 4-year letter man in track at Coe.
It was there that he met the love of his life, Ann LeFebure. He swept that petite Iowa farm girl off her feet by courting her in his black 1933 Packard Hearse. They married on April 3, 1955, and that love story has never ended.
Farrell's early family life growing up did not come very easy. His mom was a minister's daughter and the most wonderful mother anyone could ever hope for. His dad worked in the CCC camps during the 1930s and when the war started they moved to Cedar Rapids, IA, where he worked in a factory.
His family of 6 lived in a small, 880 square foot home. It was next to the factories where his dad worked. His father was an alcoholic and worked in one of the factories behind the tracks where the family lived. Around this time, Farrell's father began calling him "The Little Dutchman." The name "Dutch" stayed with friends of his through college, work, and life. When his older brother finished high school, he worked in the factory also, and within a year joined the service. When Farrell was 18, his mom left his dad. It took a while, but the family got back together again, and his dad never touched another drop of alcohol.
Farrell began his "business career" around the age of 10 or 11 by selling newspapers to the factory workers across the railroad tracks from his home. He would finish around 7:00 a.m. and walk the tracks on his way home. He enjoyed picking up the loose coal dropped from the trains and putting it in his newspaper bag to supplement the needs at home.
While still in college, Farrell had an opportunity and took a sales position in January of 1956 with Standard Fruit and Steamship Company, a major importer of bananas based in New Orleans. Later in the year, he moved to St. Louis as acting sales manager for Standard Fruit. Farrell remained in that position for 2.5 years before joining Brown and Loe, a fruit and vegetable brokerage firm in St. Louis. In 1960, three employees, Tom Lange (company manager), Farrell Gay, and Paul Beisser purchased the brokerage office from the retiring Brown and Loe owners. They opened their first Tom Lange company office.
Farrell, the youngest partner in the Lange group, was ambitious and willing to gamble his future at the age of 30 to open a second Lange office four years later in Springfield, IL. His family stayed behind in their St. Louis home, knowing a move to another city could be risky. Farrell rented a small place to live in Springfield and rented a small office downtown.
He opened the new office with a loaner desk and chair, and one telephone. His first sale was a load of potatoes with a profit of $38. Farrell still has that paper transaction in his desk. With not much money for office help, he was the office manager, salesman, typist, transportation coordinator, and bookkeeper. Farrell finally brought a chair and a desk, but there were no chairs for visitors. He would pull out a drawer from the desk and turn it upside down for a visitor to sit on. It was 4-5 months before his family could get settled in and on the first day of their arrival, their small 2-year-old son swallowed a penny and began choking. The family called for help. They felt it seemed like an eternity, but the ambulance was soon following the police car to the hospital. It again seemed long, but the doctor brought their son out with the assurance he was not in danger, and they could go. The doctor said to keep a look out for the penny. The next day the family got the brightest, shiniest penny delivered in the way only a child can deliver it….Welcome to Springfield!
Farrell spent nights in the office doing paperwork. Frequently, Ann pitched in and after dinner would bring the boys with her and they would play with toys on the floor while they did a backlog of work.
He finally hired a part-time secretary who became a full-time employee. Farrell then hired a young man and taught him what he did, and how he did it, and they were off and running. They began selling throughout central Illinois, Indiana, and the Midwest.
Farrell began his term as President of the Lange Company in 1977 with 7 midwestern Lange sales offices. After having served as company president for 18 years in Springfield, he moved to Chairman of the Board in 1995 and retired in August of 1997, with 20 Lange offices in the United States and one in Toronto, Canada. He was succeeded as CEO by his friend and long-time partner, Phil Gumpert. The partners, Lange, Gay, and Gumpert were active in several other endeavors. In 1979, the three partners purchased the two square block site of the former Sangamo Electric and Illinois Watch Company, two of Springfield's large employers. Following extensive renovation, the property was sold to the State of Illinois EPA in 1998.
The three partners were owners of TLC Inc., a national transporter of multiple products with a refrigerated fleet of 300 tractors and 500 trailers. TLC Inc. was purchased by a publicly held Texas based transportation company in 1996. Throughout the many years of running the company, the partners were affectionately known by the managers and employees as "The Three Wise Men."
In the year 1980, the owners, Lange, Gay, and Gumpert established an Employee Stock Owner Plan (ESOP). It was structured into a trust to ensure that no employee would ever have to pay for a share of Tom Lange Company stock. In less than 7 years, the company employees were the sole owners of the Tom Lange Company and its subsidiaries. The Three Wise Men had gifted the Tom Lange Company to their employees.
Farrell served 6 years, two as President, of the broker's division of the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association. He served on boards of the Sangamo Club, Illini Country Club, and the Springfield Art Association. Farrell was a member of the Imperial Golf Club in Naples, FL. He was chairman of the Old Capitol Art Fair in 1973 and repeated as honorary chairman of the same art fair 30 years later in 2003. He also served on the board of the Island Bay Yacht Club and was commodore in 1979. Farrell received the Mayor's City Preservation Award for the renovation of the site of the old Sangamo Electric facility. He served 4 years on the Board of Champion Federal in Bloomington, served 6 years on the State of IL Public Arts Advisory Council, and served 15 years on the Board of the Rail Classic and State Farm Classic golf tournaments.
As a collector of old and classic automobiles, Farrell belonged to the Classic Car Club of America, the National Woodie Club, and the Cadillac/LaSalle Club. He was a founding partner/owner of The Gables shopping complex and served on the Copley's First Citizen Board in 1975. Farrell served as board member and President of the Elijah Iles House Foundation. He was founder of the Farrell and Ann Gay Museum of Springfield history, located in the Elijah Iles House. His collection of Illinois Watch Company wrist watches, both men's and ladies, are recognized as the finest and most extensive in the country. Farrell's article on Illinois Ladies Wristwatches was published in 2010 by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. His article was seen as a standard reference for ladies' Illinois wristwatches.
In 2009, Farrell revived the Illinois Watch Company's 1925 nationwide Lincoln essay contest and brought the contest back to Springfield's six high schools. Each February three scholarships are given to the 3 Lincoln essay winners. Each winner from the 6 high schools picks out and receives an Illinois wristwatch. Most of the watches are from the 1900s into the 1930s. The scholarships are $2,000-$1,500-$1,000 for the three winners.
In 2010, Farrell organized and began the "Elijah Iles Golf Tournament." Over the next 5 years, the proceeds of the tournament brought $52,500 into the Iles House. The year the old Iles House was moved to its new home on 7th and Cook streets, it needed a little help getting the interior finished. Farrell donated $9,500. Every Christmas Farrell did face painting for children at the Old State Capitol and the Elijah Iles House.
Burial at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Farrell was born in Albia, Iowa, on July 13, 1933, the son of Eugene V. Gay and Naomi Cole Gay. Graduating from Franklin High School in Cedar Rapids, IA, he entered Coe College in 1951 on a scholarship gifted by a member of his church. He studied art. Farrell helped to support his scholarship by mopping floors and cleaning locker rooms in season, and painting houses for the college in the off season. He was a 4-year letter man in track at Coe.
It was there that he met the love of his life, Ann LeFebure. He swept that petite Iowa farm girl off her feet by courting her in his black 1933 Packard Hearse. They married on April 3, 1955, and that love story has never ended.
Farrell's early family life growing up did not come very easy. His mom was a minister's daughter and the most wonderful mother anyone could ever hope for. His dad worked in the CCC camps during the 1930s and when the war started they moved to Cedar Rapids, IA, where he worked in a factory.
His family of 6 lived in a small, 880 square foot home. It was next to the factories where his dad worked. His father was an alcoholic and worked in one of the factories behind the tracks where the family lived. Around this time, Farrell's father began calling him "The Little Dutchman." The name "Dutch" stayed with friends of his through college, work, and life. When his older brother finished high school, he worked in the factory also, and within a year joined the service. When Farrell was 18, his mom left his dad. It took a while, but the family got back together again, and his dad never touched another drop of alcohol.
Farrell began his "business career" around the age of 10 or 11 by selling newspapers to the factory workers across the railroad tracks from his home. He would finish around 7:00 a.m. and walk the tracks on his way home. He enjoyed picking up the loose coal dropped from the trains and putting it in his newspaper bag to supplement the needs at home.
While still in college, Farrell had an opportunity and took a sales position in January of 1956 with Standard Fruit and Steamship Company, a major importer of bananas based in New Orleans. Later in the year, he moved to St. Louis as acting sales manager for Standard Fruit. Farrell remained in that position for 2.5 years before joining Brown and Loe, a fruit and vegetable brokerage firm in St. Louis. In 1960, three employees, Tom Lange (company manager), Farrell Gay, and Paul Beisser purchased the brokerage office from the retiring Brown and Loe owners. They opened their first Tom Lange company office.
Farrell, the youngest partner in the Lange group, was ambitious and willing to gamble his future at the age of 30 to open a second Lange office four years later in Springfield, IL. His family stayed behind in their St. Louis home, knowing a move to another city could be risky. Farrell rented a small place to live in Springfield and rented a small office downtown.
He opened the new office with a loaner desk and chair, and one telephone. His first sale was a load of potatoes with a profit of $38. Farrell still has that paper transaction in his desk. With not much money for office help, he was the office manager, salesman, typist, transportation coordinator, and bookkeeper. Farrell finally brought a chair and a desk, but there were no chairs for visitors. He would pull out a drawer from the desk and turn it upside down for a visitor to sit on. It was 4-5 months before his family could get settled in and on the first day of their arrival, their small 2-year-old son swallowed a penny and began choking. The family called for help. They felt it seemed like an eternity, but the ambulance was soon following the police car to the hospital. It again seemed long, but the doctor brought their son out with the assurance he was not in danger, and they could go. The doctor said to keep a look out for the penny. The next day the family got the brightest, shiniest penny delivered in the way only a child can deliver it….Welcome to Springfield!
Farrell spent nights in the office doing paperwork. Frequently, Ann pitched in and after dinner would bring the boys with her and they would play with toys on the floor while they did a backlog of work.
He finally hired a part-time secretary who became a full-time employee. Farrell then hired a young man and taught him what he did, and how he did it, and they were off and running. They began selling throughout central Illinois, Indiana, and the Midwest.
Farrell began his term as President of the Lange Company in 1977 with 7 midwestern Lange sales offices. After having served as company president for 18 years in Springfield, he moved to Chairman of the Board in 1995 and retired in August of 1997, with 20 Lange offices in the United States and one in Toronto, Canada. He was succeeded as CEO by his friend and long-time partner, Phil Gumpert. The partners, Lange, Gay, and Gumpert were active in several other endeavors. In 1979, the three partners purchased the two square block site of the former Sangamo Electric and Illinois Watch Company, two of Springfield's large employers. Following extensive renovation, the property was sold to the State of Illinois EPA in 1998.
The three partners were owners of TLC Inc., a national transporter of multiple products with a refrigerated fleet of 300 tractors and 500 trailers. TLC Inc. was purchased by a publicly held Texas based transportation company in 1996. Throughout the many years of running the company, the partners were affectionately known by the managers and employees as "The Three Wise Men."
In the year 1980, the owners, Lange, Gay, and Gumpert established an Employee Stock Owner Plan (ESOP). It was structured into a trust to ensure that no employee would ever have to pay for a share of Tom Lange Company stock. In less than 7 years, the company employees were the sole owners of the Tom Lange Company and its subsidiaries. The Three Wise Men had gifted the Tom Lange Company to their employees.
Farrell served 6 years, two as President, of the broker's division of the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association. He served on boards of the Sangamo Club, Illini Country Club, and the Springfield Art Association. Farrell was a member of the Imperial Golf Club in Naples, FL. He was chairman of the Old Capitol Art Fair in 1973 and repeated as honorary chairman of the same art fair 30 years later in 2003. He also served on the board of the Island Bay Yacht Club and was commodore in 1979. Farrell received the Mayor's City Preservation Award for the renovation of the site of the old Sangamo Electric facility. He served 4 years on the Board of Champion Federal in Bloomington, served 6 years on the State of IL Public Arts Advisory Council, and served 15 years on the Board of the Rail Classic and State Farm Classic golf tournaments.
As a collector of old and classic automobiles, Farrell belonged to the Classic Car Club of America, the National Woodie Club, and the Cadillac/LaSalle Club. He was a founding partner/owner of The Gables shopping complex and served on the Copley's First Citizen Board in 1975. Farrell served as board member and President of the Elijah Iles House Foundation. He was founder of the Farrell and Ann Gay Museum of Springfield history, located in the Elijah Iles House. His collection of Illinois Watch Company wrist watches, both men's and ladies, are recognized as the finest and most extensive in the country. Farrell's article on Illinois Ladies Wristwatches was published in 2010 by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. His article was seen as a standard reference for ladies' Illinois wristwatches.
In 2009, Farrell revived the Illinois Watch Company's 1925 nationwide Lincoln essay contest and brought the contest back to Springfield's six high schools. Each February three scholarships are given to the 3 Lincoln essay winners. Each winner from the 6 high schools picks out and receives an Illinois wristwatch. Most of the watches are from the 1900s into the 1930s. The scholarships are $2,000-$1,500-$1,000 for the three winners.
In 2010, Farrell organized and began the "Elijah Iles Golf Tournament." Over the next 5 years, the proceeds of the tournament brought $52,500 into the Iles House. The year the old Iles House was moved to its new home on 7th and Cook streets, it needed a little help getting the interior finished. Farrell donated $9,500. Every Christmas Farrell did face painting for children at the Old State Capitol and the Elijah Iles House.
Burial at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Farrell Cole "Dutch" Gay, 89, of Springfield, died at 11:45 p.m. on Monday, March 27, 2023, at Cedarhurst of Springfield.
Farrell was born in Albia, Iowa, on July 13, 1933, the son of Eugene V. Gay and Naomi Cole Gay. Graduating from Franklin High School in Cedar Rapids, IA, he entered Coe College in 1951 on a scholarship gifted by a member of his church. He studied art. Farrell helped to support his scholarship by mopping floors and cleaning locker rooms in season, and painting houses for the college in the off season. He was a 4-year letter man in track at Coe.
It was there that he met the love of his life, Ann LeFebure. He swept that petite Iowa farm girl off her feet by courting her in his black 1933 Packard Hearse. They married on April 3, 1955, and that love story has never ended.
Farrell's early family life growing up did not come very easy. His mom was a minister's daughter and the most wonderful mother anyone could ever hope for. His dad worked in the CCC camps during the 1930s and when the war started they moved to Cedar Rapids, IA, where he worked in a factory.
His family of 6 lived in a small, 880 square foot home. It was next to the factories where his dad worked. His father was an alcoholic and worked in one of the factories behind the tracks where the family lived. Around this time, Farrell's father began calling him "The Little Dutchman." The name "Dutch" stayed with friends of his through college, work, and life. When his older brother finished high school, he worked in the factory also, and within a year joined the service. When Farrell was 18, his mom left his dad. It took a while, but the family got back together again, and his dad never touched another drop of alcohol.
Farrell began his "business career" around the age of 10 or 11 by selling newspapers to the factory workers across the railroad tracks from his home. He would finish around 7:00 a.m. and walk the tracks on his way home. He enjoyed picking up the loose coal dropped from the trains and putting it in his newspaper bag to supplement the needs at home.
While still in college, Farrell had an opportunity and took a sales position in January of 1956 with Standard Fruit and Steamship Company, a major importer of bananas based in New Orleans. Later in the year, he moved to St. Louis as acting sales manager for Standard Fruit. Farrell remained in that position for 2.5 years before joining Brown and Loe, a fruit and vegetable brokerage firm in St. Louis. In 1960, three employees, Tom Lange (company manager), Farrell Gay, and Paul Beisser purchased the brokerage office from the retiring Brown and Loe owners. They opened their first Tom Lange company office.
Farrell, the youngest partner in the Lange group, was ambitious and willing to gamble his future at the age of 30 to open a second Lange office four years later in Springfield, IL. His family stayed behind in their St. Louis home, knowing a move to another city could be risky. Farrell rented a small place to live in Springfield and rented a small office downtown.
He opened the new office with a loaner desk and chair, and one telephone. His first sale was a load of potatoes with a profit of $38. Farrell still has that paper transaction in his desk. With not much money for office help, he was the office manager, salesman, typist, transportation coordinator, and bookkeeper. Farrell finally brought a chair and a desk, but there were no chairs for visitors. He would pull out a drawer from the desk and turn it upside down for a visitor to sit on. It was 4-5 months before his family could get settled in and on the first day of their arrival, their small 2-year-old son swallowed a penny and began choking. The family called for help. They felt it seemed like an eternity, but the ambulance was soon following the police car to the hospital. It again seemed long, but the doctor brought their son out with the assurance he was not in danger, and they could go. The doctor said to keep a look out for the penny. The next day the family got the brightest, shiniest penny delivered in the way only a child can deliver it….Welcome to Springfield!
Farrell spent nights in the office doing paperwork. Frequently, Ann pitched in and after dinner would bring the boys with her and they would play with toys on the floor while they did a backlog of work.
He finally hired a part-time secretary who became a full-time employee. Farrell then hired a young man and taught him what he did, and how he did it, and they were off and running. They began selling throughout central Illinois, Indiana, and the Midwest.
Farrell began his term as President of the Lange Company in 1977 with 7 midwestern Lange sales offices. After having served as company president for 18 years in Springfield, he moved to Chairman of the Board in 1995 and retired in August of 1997, with 20 Lange offices in the United States and one in Toronto, Canada. He was succeeded as CEO by his friend and long-time partner, Phil Gumpert. The partners, Lange, Gay, and Gumpert were active in several other endeavors. In 1979, the three partners purchased the two square block site of the former Sangamo Electric and Illinois Watch Company, two of Springfield's large employers. Following extensive renovation, the property was sold to the State of Illinois EPA in 1998.
The three partners were owners of TLC Inc., a national transporter of multiple products with a refrigerated fleet of 300 tractors and 500 trailers. TLC Inc. was purchased by a publicly held Texas based transportation company in 1996. Throughout the many years of running the company, the partners were affectionately known by the managers and employees as "The Three Wise Men."
In the year 1980, the owners, Lange, Gay, and Gumpert established an Employee Stock Owner Plan (ESOP). It was structured into a trust to ensure that no employee would ever have to pay for a share of Tom Lange Company stock. In less than 7 years, the company employees were the sole owners of the Tom Lange Company and its subsidiaries. The Three Wise Men had gifted the Tom Lange Company to their employees.
Farrell served 6 years, two as President, of the broker's division of the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association. He served on boards of the Sangamo Club, Illini Country Club, and the Springfield Art Association. Farrell was a member of the Imperial Golf Club in Naples, FL. He was chairman of the Old Capitol Art Fair in 1973 and repeated as honorary chairman of the same art fair 30 years later in 2003. He also served on the board of the Island Bay Yacht Club and was commodore in 1979. Farrell received the Mayor's City Preservation Award for the renovation of the site of the old Sangamo Electric facility. He served 4 years on the Board of Champion Federal in Bloomington, served 6 years on the State of IL Public Arts Advisory Council, and served 15 years on the Board of the Rail Classic and State Farm Classic golf tournaments.
As a collector of old and classic automobiles, Farrell belonged to the Classic Car Club of America, the National Woodie Club, and the Cadillac/LaSalle Club. He was a founding partner/owner of The Gables shopping complex and served on the Copley's First Citizen Board in 1975. Farrell served as board member and President of the Elijah Iles House Foundation. He was founder of the Farrell and Ann Gay Museum of Springfield history, located in the Elijah Iles House. His collection of Illinois Watch Company wrist watches, both men's and ladies, are recognized as the finest and most extensive in the country. Farrell's article on Illinois Ladies Wristwatches was published in 2010 by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. His article was seen as a standard reference for ladies' Illinois wristwatches.
In 2009, Farrell revived the Illinois Watch Company's 1925 nationwide Lincoln essay contest and brought the contest back to Springfield's six high schools. Each February three scholarships are given to the 3 Lincoln essay winners. Each winner from the 6 high schools picks out and receives an Illinois wristwatch. Most of the watches are from the 1900s into the 1930s. The scholarships are $2,000-$1,500-$1,000 for the three winners.
In 2010, Farrell organized and began the "Elijah Iles Golf Tournament." Over the next 5 years, the proceeds of the tournament brought $52,500 into the Iles House. The year the old Iles House was moved to its new home on 7th and Cook streets, it needed a little help getting the interior finished. Farrell donated $9,500. Every Christmas Farrell did face painting for children at the Old State Capitol and the Elijah Iles House.
Burial at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Farrell was born in Albia, Iowa, on July 13, 1933, the son of Eugene V. Gay and Naomi Cole Gay. Graduating from Franklin High School in Cedar Rapids, IA, he entered Coe College in 1951 on a scholarship gifted by a member of his church. He studied art. Farrell helped to support his scholarship by mopping floors and cleaning locker rooms in season, and painting houses for the college in the off season. He was a 4-year letter man in track at Coe.
It was there that he met the love of his life, Ann LeFebure. He swept that petite Iowa farm girl off her feet by courting her in his black 1933 Packard Hearse. They married on April 3, 1955, and that love story has never ended.
Farrell's early family life growing up did not come very easy. His mom was a minister's daughter and the most wonderful mother anyone could ever hope for. His dad worked in the CCC camps during the 1930s and when the war started they moved to Cedar Rapids, IA, where he worked in a factory.
His family of 6 lived in a small, 880 square foot home. It was next to the factories where his dad worked. His father was an alcoholic and worked in one of the factories behind the tracks where the family lived. Around this time, Farrell's father began calling him "The Little Dutchman." The name "Dutch" stayed with friends of his through college, work, and life. When his older brother finished high school, he worked in the factory also, and within a year joined the service. When Farrell was 18, his mom left his dad. It took a while, but the family got back together again, and his dad never touched another drop of alcohol.
Farrell began his "business career" around the age of 10 or 11 by selling newspapers to the factory workers across the railroad tracks from his home. He would finish around 7:00 a.m. and walk the tracks on his way home. He enjoyed picking up the loose coal dropped from the trains and putting it in his newspaper bag to supplement the needs at home.
While still in college, Farrell had an opportunity and took a sales position in January of 1956 with Standard Fruit and Steamship Company, a major importer of bananas based in New Orleans. Later in the year, he moved to St. Louis as acting sales manager for Standard Fruit. Farrell remained in that position for 2.5 years before joining Brown and Loe, a fruit and vegetable brokerage firm in St. Louis. In 1960, three employees, Tom Lange (company manager), Farrell Gay, and Paul Beisser purchased the brokerage office from the retiring Brown and Loe owners. They opened their first Tom Lange company office.
Farrell, the youngest partner in the Lange group, was ambitious and willing to gamble his future at the age of 30 to open a second Lange office four years later in Springfield, IL. His family stayed behind in their St. Louis home, knowing a move to another city could be risky. Farrell rented a small place to live in Springfield and rented a small office downtown.
He opened the new office with a loaner desk and chair, and one telephone. His first sale was a load of potatoes with a profit of $38. Farrell still has that paper transaction in his desk. With not much money for office help, he was the office manager, salesman, typist, transportation coordinator, and bookkeeper. Farrell finally brought a chair and a desk, but there were no chairs for visitors. He would pull out a drawer from the desk and turn it upside down for a visitor to sit on. It was 4-5 months before his family could get settled in and on the first day of their arrival, their small 2-year-old son swallowed a penny and began choking. The family called for help. They felt it seemed like an eternity, but the ambulance was soon following the police car to the hospital. It again seemed long, but the doctor brought their son out with the assurance he was not in danger, and they could go. The doctor said to keep a look out for the penny. The next day the family got the brightest, shiniest penny delivered in the way only a child can deliver it….Welcome to Springfield!
Farrell spent nights in the office doing paperwork. Frequently, Ann pitched in and after dinner would bring the boys with her and they would play with toys on the floor while they did a backlog of work.
He finally hired a part-time secretary who became a full-time employee. Farrell then hired a young man and taught him what he did, and how he did it, and they were off and running. They began selling throughout central Illinois, Indiana, and the Midwest.
Farrell began his term as President of the Lange Company in 1977 with 7 midwestern Lange sales offices. After having served as company president for 18 years in Springfield, he moved to Chairman of the Board in 1995 and retired in August of 1997, with 20 Lange offices in the United States and one in Toronto, Canada. He was succeeded as CEO by his friend and long-time partner, Phil Gumpert. The partners, Lange, Gay, and Gumpert were active in several other endeavors. In 1979, the three partners purchased the two square block site of the former Sangamo Electric and Illinois Watch Company, two of Springfield's large employers. Following extensive renovation, the property was sold to the State of Illinois EPA in 1998.
The three partners were owners of TLC Inc., a national transporter of multiple products with a refrigerated fleet of 300 tractors and 500 trailers. TLC Inc. was purchased by a publicly held Texas based transportation company in 1996. Throughout the many years of running the company, the partners were affectionately known by the managers and employees as "The Three Wise Men."
In the year 1980, the owners, Lange, Gay, and Gumpert established an Employee Stock Owner Plan (ESOP). It was structured into a trust to ensure that no employee would ever have to pay for a share of Tom Lange Company stock. In less than 7 years, the company employees were the sole owners of the Tom Lange Company and its subsidiaries. The Three Wise Men had gifted the Tom Lange Company to their employees.
Farrell served 6 years, two as President, of the broker's division of the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association. He served on boards of the Sangamo Club, Illini Country Club, and the Springfield Art Association. Farrell was a member of the Imperial Golf Club in Naples, FL. He was chairman of the Old Capitol Art Fair in 1973 and repeated as honorary chairman of the same art fair 30 years later in 2003. He also served on the board of the Island Bay Yacht Club and was commodore in 1979. Farrell received the Mayor's City Preservation Award for the renovation of the site of the old Sangamo Electric facility. He served 4 years on the Board of Champion Federal in Bloomington, served 6 years on the State of IL Public Arts Advisory Council, and served 15 years on the Board of the Rail Classic and State Farm Classic golf tournaments.
As a collector of old and classic automobiles, Farrell belonged to the Classic Car Club of America, the National Woodie Club, and the Cadillac/LaSalle Club. He was a founding partner/owner of The Gables shopping complex and served on the Copley's First Citizen Board in 1975. Farrell served as board member and President of the Elijah Iles House Foundation. He was founder of the Farrell and Ann Gay Museum of Springfield history, located in the Elijah Iles House. His collection of Illinois Watch Company wrist watches, both men's and ladies, are recognized as the finest and most extensive in the country. Farrell's article on Illinois Ladies Wristwatches was published in 2010 by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. His article was seen as a standard reference for ladies' Illinois wristwatches.
In 2009, Farrell revived the Illinois Watch Company's 1925 nationwide Lincoln essay contest and brought the contest back to Springfield's six high schools. Each February three scholarships are given to the 3 Lincoln essay winners. Each winner from the 6 high schools picks out and receives an Illinois wristwatch. Most of the watches are from the 1900s into the 1930s. The scholarships are $2,000-$1,500-$1,000 for the three winners.
In 2010, Farrell organized and began the "Elijah Iles Golf Tournament." Over the next 5 years, the proceeds of the tournament brought $52,500 into the Iles House. The year the old Iles House was moved to its new home on 7th and Cook streets, it needed a little help getting the interior finished. Farrell donated $9,500. Every Christmas Farrell did face painting for children at the Old State Capitol and the Elijah Iles House.
Burial at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
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