User:Charles A Morton/sandbox

Corcoran Thom was a longtime leader in Washington’s banking, civic, business and cultural circles. Thom was a great nephew of Club member W.W. Corcoran, founder of the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Riggs Bank.

A lifelong resident of Washington, Thom attended Columbian College (now George Washington University), where he earned his law degree. He was admitted to the D.C. Bar in 1894. Although Thom practiced law for 15 years, his profession was banking, and he devoted most of his professional life – 45 years – to American Security and Trust Co., one of Washington’s largest financial institutions. Thom started with AS&T in 1909 as a vice president and trust officer. He served as president from 1928-1946. The institution’s resources grew from $38 million to $60 million during the first decade of Thom’s presidency – a remarkable achievement in the teeth of the Depression. In 1946, Thom was elected as chairman of the board, a position he held until 1954. Not surprisingly, Thom rose to national prominence as a result of the skill with which he directed the affairs of AS&T.

Thom was a noted lover of fine food, and never missed a dinner of Les Amis d’Escoffier, which celebrates delicate cuisines. When attending one such dinner, Thom famously delivered a critique of a sauce covering an artichoke on his plate, observing emotionally “[t]hat dear little artichoke, why must it always be buried under something?”

In addition to his work at AS&T, Thom’s other pursuits highlight his remarkable life. Thom served as a director of Washington Gas Light Company and People’s Drug Stores, Inc. Moreover, he was active throughout his life in civic and cultural affairs. He served as president of the Corcoran Gallery of Art, founded and served as president of the National Symphony Orchestra, and was one of the organizers of the Community Chest in Washington (a precursor to the United Way). Thom was a member of every presidential inaugural committee from Theodore Roosevelt to Dwight D. Eisenhower, was active in the American Red Cross Endowment Fund, and served as president of the prestigious Association of Oldest Inhabitants of D.C. In addition to his membership in the Metropolitan Club, Thom was a member of the Alfalfa Club, the Alibi Club, and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.

During World War II, Thom served as chairman of the finance board of the District’s Defense Unit, which was formed to “support our Government and our people in national defense,” and, among other things, spearheaded local armed services recruiting efforts and fundraising. Like thousands of American families, the Second World War visited a personal tragedy upon Thom. His second son, Lt. Huntington Thom, was killed when his ship, the U.S.S. Juno, was sunk in the battle of Guadalcanal.

Thom, a vibrant and energetic man throughout his life, died unexpectedly of a heart attack in his home on January 18, 1956. Thom was a dependable civic leader who was willing to tackle even the most difficult problems with good humor and a sense of purpose. He was intelligent, kind, and supportive of and genuinely interested in younger members of the banking fraternity, for whom he always had an encouraging word and sage advice.