Thomas Merrill Fitch

On Sunday, October 20, 2002, Thomas Merrill Fitch, 68, died peacefully in a Chicago area hospital. "Tom" was born on March 20, 1934 in Kansas City, MO, the only child of Howard and Cara Lee Fitch. He graduated from Pembroke Country Day School in 1952 and attended Stanford University and the University of Kansas. In 1960, he married Myra Lou Terry in Killeen, TX where he was stationed as a member of the U.S. Armed Services involved in a special weapons project. Shortly thereafter, Tom returned to Kansas City and began working for his father at the Kansas City Structural Steel Company. It is here that he created his own identity as a leader in the steel fabrication industry. He would later become president of the Kansas City Structural Steel Company, as well as serving as president of the Rio Grande Steel Company located in Albuquerque, NM and the Darbyshire Steel Company located in El Paso, TX. Tom also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the American Institute of Steel Construction as well as a member of the Steel Service Center Education Committee. For a number of years he served as chairman of the First Affliliate Affairs Committee of Heavy Contractors Association. He also served as president of the Builders Association of Missouri. One of Tom's passions in life was politics, and he had a profound love for the Republican Party. One of his proudest moments took place in 1984 when he served as a member of the delegation from the State of Missouri at the Republican National Convention held in Dallas. In 1976 when the Republican National Convention was held in Kansas City, he served as Housing and Entertainment Committee chairman for the State of Kansas. He also served as a cochairman of the Jackson County Republican Finance Committee. In addition to these offices, Tom was affiliated with other groups. Tom served as an officer/member of the Kansas City Club, a member of the Kansas City Country Club, the River Club, the Drury Lane Investors Club, the University Club, and the Saddle and Sirloin Club. At one time, he also served as a member and was on the Board of Trustees for Research Hospital. Survivors include his only daughter Myra Marie Wayne and her husband Bill and their two sons Conner Gentry Wayne and Parker Alexander Wayne; three sons Alexander Withers Fitch, John Bocking Fitch and William McMaster Fitch and his wife Susan. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m. Friday, October 25, 2002, at St. Elizabeth's Church at 7500 Main, Kansas City, MO. Private burial will follow. The four children request no flowers and suggest contributions to the St. Patrick's Catholic Church School in St. Charles, IL or to the Barstow School at 11511 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO. (Arrangements: McGilley Midtown Chapel (816) 753-6200)