Speir grows great legacy

SANDUSKY — For 30 years, he cultivated a worthwhile career dedicated to plants, parks and people. "This is the best horticulture job in the area," said Tom Speir, Sandusky's chief foreman in the horticulture department, which oversees greenhouse operations. "It's been a fun job." He explained. "Unlike working in the private sector, where you typically just do one job — like installing or landscaping — and maybe never see your whole work come to fruition, my job allowed me to see every phase of horticulture: propagation, installation and the ongoing care of all the plants," Speir said. "And then I got to start the whole cycle over again. You get to dabble in all aspects of horticulture, which, I think, is a major advantage to the job." People could often spot Speir in various city parks doing these very tasks alongside co-workers and greenhouse volunteers mostly because he enjoyed his responsibilities. "You are able to take pride in a certain area, and that's what made the job so personal for me. All we, the staff and I, want to do is just make the parks and our city look the best they can be." Effective Saturday, Speir ends his three-decade-long career with Sandusky's government, which started in 1992. He's retiring to spend more time with his family, dogs and boat. In 1998, he received a promotion to his current position, overseeing all greenhouse-related activities. This includes prettying up Washington Park with its vibrant floral mounds and picturesque floral clock along with many other landscaping decorations. Tom Speir, the city's longtime chief foreman who oversees Sandusky's greenhouse, holds up a key to the city he recently received. To celebrate his unwavering civic service, earlier this month, Sandusky city commissioners presented Speir with a key to the city. Officials only distribute keys to the city on rare occasions. The honor spotlights local residents who have made significant, long-lasting community contributions. Many friends, family members and colleagues attended the event, which occurred, appropriately, at Sandusky's greenhouse. "I feel very honored by it because it is not something that is handed out frequently," said Speir, who resides and intends on staying in Sandusky. "The fact that it has a personal message on it and presented by the commissioners, it definitely means a lot and will be something I cherish." Getting green for the greenhouse Throughout his tenure, Speir encountered several challenges with the greenhouse's long-term viability. During lean financial times, in hopes of conserving money, city officials considered shuttering this Franklin Street space. Speir, however, always advocated for maintaining the site, which houses all of Sandusky's plants — like geraniums, petunias, marigolds, begonias along with tropicals, such as palm trees, and thousands more — found in city parks. Often speaking at public forums, he would try to convince anyone who would listen about its overall importance. "I have always pinned our hopes that we are an economic driver," Speir said. "Oftentimes, our parks are the first impression people have of our town. If they like what they see, they would be more willing to come back. The way people view our town is one of the main reasons why there is a lot of pride here and why people want to invest here. I'd like to think the greenhouse plays a role in that." Speir remembers the early 2000s as a worrisome period. "We were on the edge of being closed down," Speir said. "It was going to be a close vote on the commission." Speir worked with officials, including commissioner Dave Waddington, to lead a grassroots effort in making Sandusky's greenhouse a more energy-efficient operation, which would help save taxpayer funds. Sandusky Greenhouse manager Tom Speir explains the tree planting process at Huron Park during Sandusky's Arbor Day celebration on Saturday, April 29, 2017. With Speir's cooperation, between 2007 and 2013, the city secured about $1 million for many greenhouse upgrades. Funds came from lots of sources, including the Erie County Community Foundation. The Friends of Sandusky Greenhouse, a nonprofit aiding in fundraising efforts, also pitched with these efforts. A vote to shut down Sandusky's greenhouse never did happen. "Our greenhouse is one of the city's greatest assets," Speir said. "It's unusual for a city of our size to have a greenhouse. We've had it for over 100 years, and it's historic. That's why it needed to be saved." Cultivating a committed team Speir wanted to deflect all personal credit and, instead, share the spotlight with colleagues and two sets of people providing lots of assistance: The friends' group as well as volunteers who help plant in the parks. "I have been very fortunate, all of these years, to work with some top-notch creative people," Speir said. "Moving forward, as long as we have a talented staff and committed volunteers, the success of the greenhouse's future is assured." Speir repeatedly thanked the volunteers for their enduring faithfulness. "It's difficult, under the current circumstances, to find enough employees, and it becomes even more of a challenge to find seasonal help," he added. "That is why our volunteer program is so important: It allows us to do things at a much lower cost. A lot of greenhouse work is done by volunteers, and that helps save our jobs, since the cost of operations goes down." Speir then took a minute to underscore the importance of Sandusky's greenhouse for others, namely city commissioners, controlling its purse strings. "In order to continue our longstanding tradition of excellence and horticulture, especially in Washington Park, the greenhouse has to keep being funded and supported by our commission, the employees and volunteers," Speir said. Tom Speir, front right, is the city's longtime chief foreman who oversees Sandusky's greenhouse. He's set to retire on Saturday. Spier is pictured with his staff, from left, Amy Wyatt, Doug Wahl and Matt Wineman. the city's longtime chief foreman who oversees Sandusky's greenhouse. Speaking up Several people spoke highly of Speir. This would include: • Sandusky ex officio mayor Dick Brady: Tom Speir is directly responsible for one of the greatest attributes that Sandusky is known for: the beautification of our parks and city property. Tom is one of those fortunate people who never saw his employment as work. He loved what he did every day for Sandusky. Tom saw his fellow employees and the army of volunteers not as employees but as his partners. On just about any day of the week, you could find him on his knees with his hands in the topsoil alongside his team members. His legacy will include the role he and the late George Mylander played in not only saving the city greenhouse but in expanding its role to serve Sandusky. Residents, visitors and tourists benefitted from Tom Speir's dedication to our city. • Sandusky Greenhouse employee Amy Wyatt: He always has a positive attitude, and he has so much knowledge. The knowledge itself is unsurpassable. He's incredible. He never quits. He just always kept his drive. • Sandusky city commissioner Dave Waddington: He is a fabulous person. He is someone who you could stop and talk with and ask him questions and have a real conversation with because he is a genuine human being. • Friends of the Greenhouse member Mary Jane Hahler: He's always been grateful for whatever work we have done. He has always been very understanding and low-key. He wasn't in this for his own ego: He was in it for altruistic reasons. It's a hard, physical job, but he contributed to the greater good. Volunteers have been inspired by his work. He had the same goals as anyone else who entered the greenhouse: make and keep the parks beautiful.