Longtime Tom Lange Co. leader Farrell Cole “Dutch” Gay has died. He was 89.
Before retiring in 1997, Gay served as president and chairman of the Tom Lange Family of Companies.
“Dutch was a wonderful man and mentor,” current Tom Lange Co. President and CEO Greg Reinauer said in a statement. “I could always count on him for the background on our business. It is important that our organization remembers and embraces the dedication and contributions of our founders.”
While in college, Gay took a sales position in January 1956 with Standard Fruit and Steamship Co., 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 and remained in that position before joining Brown and Loe in St. Louis, according to the statement from Tom Lange Co.
In 1960, three employees — Gay, Tom Lange (company manager) and Paul Beisser purchased the office from the retiring Brown and Loe owners and opened their first Tom Lange Co. office. Four years into the venture, Phil “Rock” Gumpert joined the team.
“As a newcomer to the sales side of the business, Dutch and I would talk numerous times every day as he was a mentor to me,” Gumpert said in the statement from Tom Lange Co. “Dutch was not only my boss, but we also became good friends. He was always a gentleman, a person full of kindness, compassion, and empathy for people but also one with strong business ethics and integrity. Dutch and I had a very special bond. We became more like brothers than just friends. Over the years, he became my best pal. Thanks to my pal, Dutch for all the great memories.”
Gay, along with owners Lange and Gumpert, established an employee stock ownership plan in 1980, according to the company. It was structured into a trust to ensure that no employee would ever have to pay for a share of Tom Lange Co. stock. In less than seven years, the employees were the sole owners of the Tom Lange Co.and its subsidiaries, the company said.
Gay is survived by his two sons, four grandchildren, one sister and three great-grandchildren, according to his obituary.
