I. B. (Tom) Sutton is President of the General Machinery and Supply Company of Tampico, Mexico, and Mexico City, Mexico.

He also has a number of other business and industrial interests in the Republic of Mexico.

He was born in Saginaw, Michigan, and was educated at the University of Colorado and the University of Denver.

Mr. Sutton is a charter member of the Rotary Club of Tampico, which was organized in 1922. He has served Rotary International as President (1928-29), Vice-President, Director, District Governor, and as chairman and member of numerous committees.

During his many years as a Rotarian, and four years as a member of the Board of Directors of Rotary International, he has visited Rotary Clubs in more than 50 countries in North and South America, in Europe and the Orient.

From Rotary International,

35 East Wacker Drive,

Chicago 1, Ill., U.S.A.

March 1954.

I. B. ("Tom") SUTTON

To all his Rotary friends he is Tom. Tom Sutton, the hardware wholesaler from Tampico, Mexico.

Tom was my President during my Board term of 1928-1929.

Of course that was the best Board ever, even if Tom did have some trouble in keeping one or two of his helpers in line.

Josef Schulz always brought a ham (cooked) with him from his beloved Pecky, Czechoslovakia and once in a while Tom had to adjourn the grind for 10 or 15 minutes while Josef donned his white apron and proceeded to feed us a few slices of wonderful ham. At that time Bob Hill (later President of R.I.) always had one of his famous stories ready.

Al Roth (the work horse) always was serious and it is no wonder that later he also became President of R.I.

Arthur Sapp also was on Tom's Board but he was the immediate Past President of R.I.

Tom must have been a good coach to develop two future Presidents.

I am sure he often felt annoyed at some of us but if so he never showed it in any way.

During Tom's year he had some difficult problems effecting Rotary worldwide, but they were always handled firmly, but kindly, and efficiently.

Tom has continued all through the years since 1929 to maintain his keen interest in Rotary and it is always a pleasure for us to meet our old "chief" and discuss current Rotary affairs with him.

J.A.C.