Tom lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has been raising seedlings for more than 50 years. He specializes in tall bearded irises and has introduced more than 20 registered cultivars.
In 2012, Tom's Iris Chief John Jolly (pictured at right), won the Wister Medal. This is the highest Tall Bearded Iris award given by the American Iris Society, and is given to only three irises per year. This unique iris previously won Honorable Mention in 2005 and the Award of Merit in 2008.
Another of Tom's hybrids, Miah Jane, was first runner up for the President's Cup at the 2002 American Iris Society in Memphis and received the American Iris Society Award of Merit in 2007.
