Hall Of Fame Inductees

 

The individuals nominated should have made a significant impact or positive influence that assures the future of our industry in the lives of generations to come.

 

Once nominated, an individual’s biography and photo are updated on the site, and he or she is placed in the polls for voting. At the end of the year the committee takes into consideration the votes and decides which candidates are inducted.

 

Those with a star (*) next to their name below were either inducted posthumously or have passed away since being inducted.

 

Nomination Qualifications

  • Person with integrity and passion
  • Minimum 20 years in industry
  • Someone who has developed  or invented  new technology
  • Has made contributions that resulted in change
  • Contributed to mankind’s needs in his field
  • Provided education and encouragement  with self-sacrifice
  • Changed the industry

Tom Courtright

Orchard Nursery

 

Tom is a 2nd generation garden center owner.  Tom’s parents founded East Bay Nursery in the 40s.  Tom along with his father designed and installed flower shows during the summer including the State Fair in Sacramento, Oakland Flower Show and many at Northern California county fairs.   His flower show earnings paid for his college education at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo where he studied horticulture and met his future wife Jacquie Williams.

After graduation Tom purchased Orchard Nursery and Florist in Lafayette in 1971 and settled into a life of community and industry service.  Tom is member of the Rotary Club of Lafayette and Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and has led both organizations.  Tom was honored as the City of Lafayette’s Businessman of the Year and Citizen of the Year for his many civic contributions.

Tom was named the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Center’s Young Nurseryman of the year in 1979.  He served and currently serves as our local nursery association chapter president. Tom was elected to state leadership and served as the State President in 1992-1993.

He led the Garden Centers of America and received its highest honor the Jack Schneider award named for the man Tom bought his nursery from.

 Tom served on the board and as president of the American Nursery and Landscape Association in Washington, DC, the industry’s national trade association. In 2004 he and his wife Jacquie were the co-recipients of the Pacific Coast Nurseryman award.

Tom is currently on the board of the Master Nursery Garden Centers Cooperative and served as its president.

And since he knows no boundaries and is an advocate of travel to learn from the great retailers around the world, Tom has been very involved with the International Garden Center Association having served as its president, the only American to do so.