Honorary member Thomas Decker recognized by Cary-Grove Rotary Club

The Rotary Club of Cary-Grove was saddened to learn of the passing of former member Thomas C. Decker this past November at age 91.

To honor his memory, the club has made a contribution in his name to The Rotary Foundation in the amount of $15,000.

The Decker name appears on the street, library, park and trail that were named in his honor, but the club membership wanted to make sure that his generosity to Rotary and to students in the community was properly recognized.

Decker served in the Navy in World War II. He was president of Todec Corp., a building and developing firm in Cary. The Cary Industrial Center, Northwood Acres and Eastgate subdivision were several of his projects. In the late 1990s, he donated the land and paid for and directed the construction of the new 24,000-square-foot building for the Cary Area Public Library on Three Oaks Road. His only stipulation was expanding services so all children - even those outside village limits - could use it.

He was a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Cary-Grove and is responsible for establishing the club's scholarship fund through personal contributions. Thanks to his generosity, the club has been able to establish a sustaining scholarship program that benefits students of Cary-Grove High School. His fund currently provides two, $6,000 scholarships and six, $1,000 scholarships annually.

Decker was a self-made man who prided himself in being a success through hard work and determination. In establishing the scholarship program, he wanted to ensure students desiring to continue their educational pursuits were able to do so. He was particularly interested in the development of vocational-minded students and wanted to make sure they had the opportunity to follow their career choices. Over the past 15 years, his vision has provided in excess of $100,000 to students wishing to pursue education beyond high school.

After retirement, Decker relocated to Carlsbad, Calif., but continued his relationship with the Rotary Club of Cary-Grove as an honorary member. He would often visit the club when returning to visit family and friends. He is sorely missed, but his foresight in establishing the Decker Scholarship Fund will benefit many more students well into the future.