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Tom Gilliam
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
As a young boy growing up in Cyril, Oklahoma, Tom knew he was going to be involved in agriculture, but he would go well beyond involvement so the industry he loved, would remain viable for future generations. Tom’s involvement in agriculture, began by showing livestock in high school through the FFA. Much of what Tom learned was self-taught and acquired through hard work and hands on experience.
Tom attended Oklahoma State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1958. Upon graduation, he moved to Illinois with his wife Reta for a two-year career in the swine industry. In October of 1959, he moved to Oklahoma City with a job selling hogs for a commission company at the Oklahoma National Stockyards. But cattle remained his first love, so five years later, with some solid experience under his belt, he began selling cattle, also at the Oklahoma National Stockyards.
In the early years of his career, Tom said the Lord blessed him by opening many doors and one of those doors opened in the 1970’s, when he met Bill Griffeth and joined a partnership.
Together they started a Cattle Order Buying company. Their business flourished and in 1987, they expanded with the acquisition of Stockman Oklahoma Commission Company, followed by the purchase of the Apache Auction Market in Apache, Oklahoma.
Tom and his partner Bill were fortunate to have worked with Accountant and Office Manager, George Privett who successfully ran the front office operations for more than 40 years. Along with George’s loyalty to the business, Tom also says loyal customers were a vital part of their success.
In 1991, Governor David Walters appointed Tom to serve on the Oklahoma State Board of Agriculture. He successfully held the position as board member for ten years. In 1994, Tom received the Graduate of Distinction Award in Animal Science at Oklahoma State University. Today, Stockman Oklahoma Commission Company and the Apache Auction Market are leased to Bob Rodenberger and to Bill Griffeth’s son, Greg Griffeth as they are carrying on the livestock market torch into the next generation.