Thomas Forrest Warner

Thomas Forrest Warner was a fourth-generation Washingtonian and long-time business owner in the Metro DC area. He passed away August 18, 2025, in Milwaukee, WI, where he had moved to be near his youngest son, the Reverend Andrew Warner. Tom, as he was known to all, was born on July 11, 1941, to Carolyn Elizabeth Wray and Edwin Forrest Warner at the old Sibley Hospital on North Capitol Street.

Tom attended Oxon Hill High School, class of 1959, where he was a proud member of the varsity football team. From there, he continued his education at Western Maryland College, class of 1963. He majored in Economics and enjoyed playing college football for two years. He was a member of Army ROTC. While at college, he married his high school sweetheart and soon became a father. Taking his responsibilities as a father seriously, he excelled in his major area of studies, Economics. He was the only member of his class to pass the government G7 exam, which allowed him to defer his military service and train as an agent for the IRS.

In April 1964, the military activated his commitment, and his training began at Fort Benning, Georgia, and Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, where he served a two-year stint as an officer in the US Army’s famed First Armored Division "Old Ironsides." He then returned to DC to join the family firm, George F. Warner Plumbing and Heating, known for its slogan, “Hot and Cold Service All Over Town.”

Tom's family had deep roots in the Washington, DC area. His great-grandfather settled in DC after the Civil War and became a "pipe fitter," where he helped lay pipes in Georgetown to accommodate the growing population. His grandfather opened his own plumbing company along with two uncles. When his father returned from WWII, he also joined the family business. Everyone lived in close proximity on the same street, and the boys in the family often spent free time cleaning up the plumbing shop and "sorting fittings". In 1982, Tom assumed leadership of the business and grew it from two locations to 20 and a staff of over 300 employees as he expanded the service to encompass the suburbs around the Washington, DC, beltway. Over 100,000 customers, many repeat customers, leaned on 1-800-4-HOT WATER when their homes needed service.

An active and dedicated promoter of professional organizations, with Apartment Office and Business Association and the DC area Property Management Association close to his heart. He was also an active member of the Greater Washington Board of Trade and a founding member of the Washington Bank of Commerce, acting as the chair of the Loan Committee.

Tom's long-held belief that there was dignity in working in the trades made him a popular speaker in area schools and junior colleges. He was known for saying, "They can put a man on the moon, but there will always be work for a good plumber."

Beginning in 1985, Tom spent several weeks each summer at the Harvard School of Business OPM program, finishing in 1988. After his time at Harvard, he took a hard look at the company and worked towards improving the value of the residential side of the business. In his hiring of female, black, and gay plumbers, he demonstrated the value of employees who reflected the changing demographics of his customers and the times. Tom was an early advocate in the contracting field of promoting minorities to upper management positions. He cherished diversity, equity, and inclusion, and when there weren’t enough candidates, he created the Warner College of Plumbing Knowledge to educate and train new hires moving up from plumber’s apprentice to licensed master plumbers, HVAC technicians, and gas fitters.

In 1994, INC. Magazine did an article on his company. By today's standards, much of the following achievements highlighted in the article may be taken for granted, but in the early 90s, it was groundbreaking. The article focused on such successes as being the first contractor to offer drug testing to all employees, a continuing education program for his employees, the hiring of female plumbers, an early embrace of computer technology, and a preventative maintenance program for homeowners' heating and air conditioning. The excitement in the industry brought people from as far away as Scotland and South Africa to hear Tom's ideas of success. Tom was lauded in Scotland's House of Lords for his willingness to share information with fellow contractors.

In 1995, the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection targeted the company. In June of 2000, after several years of legal litigation against him and his companies: The Warner Management Company, Inc., Warner Plumbing of Maryland, Warner Electrical Services Inc., and Warner Heating and Air Conditioning Inc., Tom filed for personal bankruptcy after spending $3 million in legal fees. As he told his friends, "No one's pockets are deep enough to fight the government."

Tom tried to recover, but the injuries to his reputation were too severe. He knew that one had to be able to trust a service provider, and consumers were suspicious. The damage to his reputation was not recoverable. He retired to his home in Bethany Beach, Delaware, and pursued his love of gardening and biking. In 2014, as his health began to falter, he moved to Milwaukee, WI, and the retirement community of St John's on the Lake, to be near his son and grandsons.

He leaves behind his ex-wife, Barbara, and his children, Elizabeth of Martha's Vineyard, MA, John “Barrett” of Aiken, SC, Andrew of Milwaukee, WI, a son, Robert, and grandsons Alex, Tomas, and David.

A private memorial service will be held this fall to celebrate Tom’s life. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be sent to the Thomas Warner Scholarship Fund, Wisconsin Foundation UCC, W1000 Spring Grove Road, Ripon, WI 54971 (or online at Wisconsin Foundation UCC).