Name to a Face: Tom Harrington

Where have you seen Tom Harrington? The real question may be where haven't you seen him? He is behind the scenes of most Veterans and American Legion projects, front and center when it comes to committees and economic development projects, and off to the side watching as Whitehall grows under his and the Jefferson Local Development Corporation's tutelage.

Born in Germany to a US military family, Tom spent much of his life traveling with his father's deployments internationally, as well as in the United States. Montana seemed to call his name. When a high school wrestling coach suggested and encouraged him to attend Montana State University, he decided that was the right choice for him. At MSU he joined the ROTC program and graduated in 1978. Upon college completion he joined the Army, where he would spend the next 22 years.

Upon his retirement from the Army, Montana was once again his calling, more specifically, Whitehall. With its rural community setting, but luxuries of larger metropolitan areas nearby, Whitehall seemed the perfect fit. Having not experienced a sense of "home" and "community" during his time in the military, Whitehall fit what he and his family were looking for.

Tom now works for Montana State University and the Jefferson Local Development Corporation (JLDC), promoting community and economic development. Through his work with JLDC he is able to help create successful business plans for local entities, as well as assist the community by aiding small entrepreneurs and home-grown shops.

Through his work with the Community Transition Advisory Council (CTAC) Tom helps promote the use of our natural resources via the Golden Sunlight Mine, and helps provide information to the community on what the mine is doing and how they are benefiting the community.

Tom also works tirelessly with the Whitehall veterans and American Legion associations on a regular basis. He assists in all of their dealings with the Whitehall Community Center, organizes memorial services, and keeps the Veteran's park and town's flags in good condition.

Tom sees that Whitehall is growing, busting at the seams with new opportunities ready to be seized and capitalized on by the right individuals. He's excited to see the vibrancy returning to the Whitehall community and believes projects like the recently announced Western Legacy Center will bring more tourists into the area, helping area businesses even more. He loves that Whitehall has such an involved community who do the work behind the scenes for the betterment of the community, not just the recognition