Dr. Thomas Edward Drilling

1921 - 2017

Dr. Thomas Edward Drilling

March 20, 1921 - May 15, 2017

Tulare

Dr. Thomas (Tom) Edward Drilling was born on March 20, 1921 to Nina (McLeod) and Joseph C. Drilling in Lake View, Iowa. He was the oldest of five children growing up in the Depression era. He came to Tulare with his family from Iowa in 1936. He joined the famed Tulare High School Class of 1938, which included Admiral Elmo "Bud" Zumwalt Jr., former Supervisor Don Hillman, Dale Hillman, president of JD Heiskell, and many others. Tom was a proud Tulare Redskin and was active in student government and football, basketball and baseball, but his true love was baseball. He had fond memories of working as a bellhop at the old Hotel Tulare. As a college student at Fresno State, he was active in student government. He continued to play baseball on local teams and as a young professional, he was the catcher and manager of the Tulare Red Devils night fast-pitch softball team, leading them to a State Championship in 1948.

After graduating from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry in 1944, Tom served his country in two wars, World War II and the Korean War, as a dentist. He served three branches of the service: in dental school with the Army, in World War II with the Navy and in the Korean War with the Marine Corps. While in the Navy, he was assigned to Admiral Nimitz's staff at his headquarters in Hawaii.

In 1946, he returned to Tulare after World War II to establish his dental practice. Since there were no oral surgeons in the area at that time, Dr. Drilling used his expertise in surgery to volunteer to treat all accident victims (day and night) at both the Tulare County Hospital and the Tulare District Hospital.

He was a founding member, and in 1948, served as the first elected president of the Tulare Kiwanis Club. The club convinced him to run for the Tulare City Council to combat corruption and organized gambling and prostitution in the city. In 1951, just after turning 30 years old, Tom was elected, polling the largest number of votes among many candidates. He was chosen by the Council to be Tulare's youngest elected mayor. During his tenure, city government was cleaned up. The police chief and the justice court judge were persuaded to resign. Prostitution and gambling on Front Street were closed down.

Negotiations were begun with the Tulare Irrigation District to cover the ditch which ran through the city, north of Cross Street - known as "Bash Alley." As mayor, Tom was on the negotiating team representing the City on the new 99 Freeway east of town, insisting on proper drainage and future access. He also changed our City government to include a City Manager and established an active Planning Commission. Before his term was over as mayor, Tom was recalled to active duty in 1952-53 during the Korean War.

When he returned to Tulare, his patients eagerly returned for fillings at $2.00 each, extractions for $2.50 and exams for many entire families, free of charge. He served as president of the Tulare-Kings Dental Society from 1951-52. With his partner, Dr. Richard Hesse, Dr. Drilling conducted a comparison study of fluoride, examining the teeth of Tulare's schoolchildren and those in Lemoore, where fluoride is naturally present in the water. These pioneering results demonstrated the value of fluoride use for the prevention of dental cavities.

In 1956, Tom was elected President of the Tulare Rotary Club. In over sixty years as a member of the Tulare Noon Rotary Club, he has served on college scholarship committees and on the committee to successfully raise funds for a new van for the Senior Center in 1991 and served on the Rotary committee to raise funds for Teen City. Prior to that, he served on the City committee to choose the site of the Tulare Senior Center.

Tom practiced dentistry in Tulare for 40 years and for several years, 6 days per week. He was a friend to all of his patients - caring about them like family. After his retirement in 1984, he remained actively involved in the health field as a founding member and trustee of the Tulare Hospital Foundation. He was an active participant in Tulare politics. He was the lead plaintiff against the racetrack proposed development in Tulare and was currently plaintiff against the Tulare Hospital Board in various legal actions. He was protective of Tulare and he felt it was his obligation to take an active role in serious issues threatening the well-being of our City. In 2014, he was honored as the Tulare Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year.

He was a die-hard fan of USC Trojan Football and of Los Angeles Dodgers baseball.

Tom was a man of great character, decisiveness, wisdom, courage and indomitable spirit. He was witty and knew no stranger. His family will miss him always, but take great solace in knowing he packed a lot of mindful living into his 96 years. He spent his life in service and in faith for all humanity. Fight On!

Tom is survived by his wife and true partner of 72 years, Patricia (Pat); his surviving children, sister Kathleen Drilling, SSND, Fresno, and Patricia Drilling Phelps and her husband David Phelps, Tulare; his grandchildren, the light of his life, Andrew (Drew) and Caitlin Phelps. He is also survived by his sister, Jeanne Beck and her husband, Harold, of Tulare; sisters-in-law, Janet Boyle, Joyce Drilling and Joan Drilling; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter, Christine Drilling Glogow and her husband, Eli; brothers, Joseph, Robert and Richard.

Visitation will be held on Monday, May 22, 2017 from 4-6pm at Sterling and Smith Funeral Home, 409 North K St., Tulare. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 10am at St. Aloysius Church, 125 E. Pleasant Ave., Tulare. Remembrances may be made to the St. Aloysius School Memorial Fund, 627 Beatrice Dr., Tulare, CA 93274 or the donor's favorite charity. Arrangements are entrusted to Sterling and Smith Funeral Home.