R. Thomas "Tom" Price

Former Fort Dodge attorney R. Thomas (Tom) Price of Iowa City died peacefully July 8, 2025 due to complications of Parkinson's. A memorial service will be held at 1pm on September 6, 2025 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Fort Dodge, Iowa, followed by a reception.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Price Family in care of Sondra Price (PO Box 167, Iowa City, IA 52244).
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to St. Croix Hospice for the care and compassion they showed Tom and family.
Tom was born in Smith Center, Kansas on August 6, 1937, to Roy Thomas Price, Sr. and Mildred Louise Wagner Price. His early years were spent in Smith Center with his mother, living with his grandparents while his dad served during World War II. Upon returning, his father moved the family to Ord, Nebraska, to continue his life-long career with Safeway Stores. It was in Ord that his brother, Dennis Harlan Price, was born in 1942.
Then the family moved to Denison, Iowa, where Tom was active in the Boy Scouts, attending Jamboree at Valley Forge Pennsylvania. He also played football, piano, and band. When he was in the 8th grade, the family moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa. Tom quickly made many friends. He participated in football, wrestling, tennis, acapella choir, DeMolay and was elected President of the Student Body. Upon graduation in 1956 from Fort Dodge Senior High, he was awarded the Iowa Bar Association Citizenship and Leadership Award.
Tom enrolled at Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI) where he majored in History and Social Science, minoring in Biology. While there, he roomed with his lifelong friend, Jim Duea. He was involved in many activities including Alpha Chi Epsilon Social Fraternity, ISTC Foreign Relations Organization, which hosted many prominent speakers and guests from other countries, was elected Vice President of the Student Body and successfully completed his student teaching in Independence, Iowa. During the summer of his junior year, he was selected to attend classes at Oriel College at Oxford University, England, and traveled widely in Europe-one of the most formative experiences of his life.
On September 9th, 1961, Tom married Sondra Kay Anderson, also of Fort Dodge. They would have celebrated their 64th anniversary this year and are the parents of five children: John Thomas Price (Stephanie), Carrie Anne Whittaker (Mark), Susan Elizabeth Saylor (Kirk Hardcastle), Allyson Kay Rushford (Jason) and James Anderson Price (deceased). They are the grandparents of ten grandchildren: Ian Anderson Saylor (Mikayla Walker); Abigail Jane, Grace Elizabeth, and Anna Louise Whittaker; Benjamin Thomas, Spencer John, and Alden James Gale Price; and Owen Lee, Luke Thomas, and Seth Allan Rushford.
In 1960, Tom was accepted into the University of Iowa College of Law, where he became a member of the Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity. He graduated with honors in 1963, earning his Juris Doctorate degree. He first practiced in Des Moines as an Iowa State Assistant Attorney General where he had an earlier preceptorship as a law student. He was a member of the American Bar Association, The Iowa Bar Association, and the Webster County Bar Association of which he served as President. He served on the Iowa Bar Association Family Law Committee, developing many statutes on marital property in divorces, and was admitted to the United States 8th District Circuit Court of Appeals. In 1964, he and Sondra moved back to Fort Dodge where he practiced Family Law for 50 years. In addition to his law practice, he served four years as First Assistant Webster County Attorney.
Tom continued to pursue his love of teaching at Iowa Central Community College where, for 30 years, he taught Criminal Law classes for countless law enforcement students and personnel. Within the community, Tom served as Chairman of the Christian and Jewish Organization; Chairman of Iowa Children and Families; Chairman of Youth Shelter Services, Chairman of the American Heart Association Fundraiser and Board Member of the noon Rotary Club through which his family hosted two foreign exchange high school students. He sang with The Fort Dodge Men's Civic Glee Club for many years.
Tom's devotion to social justice was evident throughout his personal and professional life. As an attorney, he devoted many hours to Legal Aid of Iowa, representing pro bono clients, especially women and children, who could not otherwise afford representation. In 1997, he was recognized for "Extraordinary Service in the Cause of Equal Access to Justice for the Poor" by the Volunteer Lawyers Project and the Iowa State Bar Association. In 2012, the University of Iowa Law School awarded him the first ever Alumni Service Award, supported by letters from his professional peers, including two Iowa Supreme Court Justices. A proud Hawkeye, he credited his education at the university for emphasizing service, honor and commitment to the legal needs of all people.
A committed Christian, Tom believed the highest calling of our faith was to serve those in need. As a youth attending First Congregational United Church of Christ in Fort Dodge, he was a member of Pilgrim Fellowship and choir, and over the years served on numerous committees, including serving as moderator. He especially cherished teaching the Senior High Sunday School, where he emphasized that faith was a "quest" journey, one that should engage both the heart and the intellect. He modeled this by being a voracious reader across diverse subjects, including religion, philosophy, Eastern spirituality, ethics, biography, literature, and law-enthusiastically sharing the ideas and insights he discovered there. He was a wise and inspiring sage to many.
Tom was a man of numerous passions, including tennis and bicycling. He raced bicycles competitively, completed at least 10 RAGBRAI rides with his kids, and at age 48, traversed the state with three other cyclists in less than 24 hours- the first ever to do so. After bicycling he took up motorcycling, riding his Harley with many friends and family. To those fortunate to know him as a friend, he was loyal and generous, and enjoyed nothing more than a good laugh.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Mildred Price, his son James Anderson Price, his in-laws Harold and Kathryn Anderson, many aunts, uncles and cousins. He is survived by his wife Sondra Kay Anderson,; five children: John Thomas Price (Stephanie), Carrie Anne Whittaker (Mark), Susan Elizabeth Saylor (Kirk Hardcastle), Allyson Kay Rushford (Jason) and James Anderson Price (deceased);ten grandchildren: Ian Anderson Saylor (Mikayla Walker); Abigail Jane, Grace Elizabeth, and Anna Louise Whittaker; Benjamin Thomas, Spencer John, and Alden James Gale Price; and Owen Lee, Luke Thomas, and Seth Allan Rushford; his dear brother Dennis Harlan Price and his wife Wallace Kaye Reynolds Price, three nephews, eight great nephews and nieces and three living cousins.
Tom Price's greatest legacy, however, is his loving example as a father and grandfather, creating countless joyful memories, while modeling what it means to be a person of integrity and faith. He made the world a better place and will be deeply missed.
Online condolences and memories may be shared on Tom's Tribute Wall.