Tom Gerdy is a building contractor by trade. He has spent the last 27 years running a small construction company in Lynchburg, Virginia (No, Jerry Falwell; Jack Daniels is Lynchburg, Tennessee). His true passion, however, has been directed at leading a variety of community efforts to help people in need help themselves.

He was lucky enough to find a woman, Jane, who has put up with him for 32 years. She was sure he would grow out of his childish ways, but life if full of surprises. They have four children and Tom attributes all of his gray hair to the years they were teenagers.

Local, state and national groups have honored Tom for his community efforts. He has received recognition from the Virginia Governor’s Board For The Prevention Of Child Abuse And Neglect. He also received The National Conference For Community And Justice Humanitarian Award. He lead a project that received a National Make A Difference Day Award at a local community center for inner city children.

Tom’s major focus of community involvement has been with Habitat For Humanity.

In 2002, Tom was chosen National Volunteer Of The Year with Habitat For Humanity for his work on several special projects around the country. In the midst of all of the recognition, he is quick to point out that people want to make a difference and sometimes it just takes a cheerleader. He claims that he is just a cheerleader.

Since there is so much work to be done in our country, he says it’s a good thing he is still five or six years away from middle age. He is 54 years old. You do the math. That being the case, he continues to cheer, but at 6’2” and 250 lbs. he refuses to wear the skirt.

Blog Entries by Tom Gerdy

Equal Time For Tom The Carpenter

Posted November 4, 2008 | 05:22 PM (EST)


I have had about all I can take. I can no longer listen while John and Sarah continue to try to convince us that they will be good for Joe The Plumber. The more Joe The Plumber, Sarah the hockey mom and John the politician speak, the more I realize...

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McCain/Palin -- Unifiers At Work

5 Comments | Posted October 23, 2008 | 05:55 PM (EST)


I want to be one of the first to congratulate and thank the John McCain and Sarah Palin team for the work they have done to unify our country. Like most of the country, my first reaction to the Republican ticket and the tactics being employed was that they were...

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This Isn't School, So Let Us Pray

4 Comments | Posted October 9, 2008 | 01:59 PM (EST)


The presidential campaign has set many records. Record numbers of new voters have registered. A record number of dollars have been spent campaigning. Now we have set a record by reaching new depths of mudslinging, personal attacks and slime. I know that politicians like to use country adages to make...

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Sarah Palin: A Lawyer's Best Friend

Posted September 17, 2008 | 03:24 PM (EST)


America, we have a problem. We have a candidate for Vice President of the United States of America that is hiding from us. To further complicate things we are finding that she can't seem to keep from needing lawyers to straighten out messes that she has left behind. The Wassila...

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Rumblings From the Graves

Posted September 10, 2008 | 08:46 AM (EST)


I am certain that our founding fathers didn't have this in mind as they risked their fortunes, their reputations and even their lives to create this country. In case some of you haven't noticed, the political process has once again caused us to take our eye off of the proverbial...

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Study Shows Politics Worse Than Crack Cocaine

Posted September 3, 2008 | 11:34 PM (EST)


How addictive is the game of politics and power? My unscientific study indicates that crack cocaine is nothing when compared to political power. Let's just list a couple of frightening "alleged" activities that were done in the pursuit of power, fame or fortune in the world of politics without attaching...

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Obama's World Tour and Albert Einstein's Revelation

Posted July 25, 2008 | 10:45 AM (EST)


Does anyone have any idea what E=MC² really means? What is the theory of relativity? What is the photoelectric effect? Who won the '53 World Series? I'm probably not going out a limb saying that there are only a handful of people in the world who can answer those questions....

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The Other Energy Crisis and The Prom Night Pimple

Posted July 5, 2008 | 06:08 PM (EST)


I have yet to pay $4.00 for a gallon of gas but I am sure that magical moment for me is only days away. It won't be quite as memorable as where I was when JFK was shot, but breaking the $4.00 barrier will be a pretty big moment for...

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We Are All Blended-Americans!

Posted June 9, 2008 | 03:40 PM (EST)


Like many other people in this country, the entire primary season wore my butt out. I am one exhausted American. The good news is that history was made. The bad news is that history was made.

Some of the 'good news' history included the following positives. The candidates who made...

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Stop The Spinning Before I Throw Up!

Posted May 12, 2008 | 06:02 PM (EST)


Somewhere along this long and drawn out Democratic primary process, the Clinton machine lost site of the goal. When things started looking tough for Hillary, the machine simply forgot about the good of the country and decided to use every twist and turn to get elected. What started out as...

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There Is Hope -- A Radical Centrist!

Posted May 6, 2008 | 05:43 PM (EST)


As the presidential primaries progressed, there were some interesting developments to be proud of as Americans. In our melting pot of a country, candidates who came from a variety of religious backgrounds were stepping forward and talking about new ideas for our country. At least two different genders were represented...

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Ann Coulter, Are Your 15 Minutes Worth The Price?

Posted May 2, 2008 | 06:45 PM (EST)


Attractive blondes have always drawn attention, but in recent years we have given way too much attention to the antics of blonde women for non-news activities. In an attempt to fill space, the 24 hour quasi-news stations have put a variety of fair haired females on the front page. The...

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A Child Of Woodstock and a Regular Guy

Posted May 2, 2008 | 02:27 PM (EST)


Max Yasgar stood before about a half million people in 1969 on his farm at The Woodstock Music and Arts Festival in upstate New York and proclaimed "I'm a farmer!" The throngs of people cheered that simple statement. If you look beyond those simple three and a half words (I...

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We Are Family!

Posted April 27, 2008 | 01:47 AM (EST)


My wife's, mother Zee died on the morning of April 10 after a relatively short battle with brain cancer. When a loved one dies, your thoughts take you to many places that you might not otherwise go. I feel it is important to recognize and remember the magnitude of what...

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Much Worse Than Bitter!

Posted April 15, 2008 | 04:08 PM (EST)


Bitter is just the beginning! Spiteful! Outrageous! Angry! Hostile! Antagonistic! Immature! Irrational! Childlike! Just so I make myself clear, these words aren't referring to the small town blue collar workers in Pennsylvania. This isn't about Bible-toting, gun-packing Americans. This isn't about white collar elitists or middle class workers. This isn't...

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Lessons Beyond David(son) and Goliath

Posted April 2, 2008 | 01:48 PM (EST)


It is always exciting to see people overcome enormous odds to find success no matter what the challenge. The scenario is often played out, created or recreated through movies about sporting events. Most people can't help but pull for the underdog as long as they aren't playing against their favorite...

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Oceanfront Property In Kansas

6 Comments | Posted March 26, 2008 | 10:37 AM (EST)


I need to share a wonderful story I recently heard about cancer and death. I am sure you are wondering how I could use the words wonderful, cancer and death in the same sentence. I think that after you hear this story you will agree that in this case it's...

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WWGD - What Would Groucho Do?

2 Comments | Posted March 24, 2008 | 05:04 PM (EST)


Among other strange and wonderful words of wisdom Groucho Marx left us, there's a quote that comes to mind as I watch this campaign. He has often been credited with saying, "Please accept my resignation. I don't care to belong to any club that will have me as a member."...

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A Special Blessing

Posted March 4, 2008 | 07:28 AM (EST)


Most of us have a few experiences each day that make us laugh or grin for a short period of time. If we are lucky, we may cross paths with something that makes us grin for a day or two. If we are truly blessed, somewhere on our path we...

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Habitat For Humanity And My Rooftop Revelation

Posted February 21, 2008 | 08:12 AM (EST)


I am a building contractor in Lynchburg, Virginia. Almost 20 years ago, I was asked to donate some time using my carpentry abilities to help frame a home for a good family that needed a hand. I quickly learned about an organization called Habitat For Humanity. This home was the...

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