Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Luke, Thomas C. 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com July 4, 2010, 11:28 am

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 446 - 447
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     THOMAS C. (Tommy) LUKE stands in the very forefront of the dealers in cut 
flowers in Portland, where he has built up the largest individual business in 
his line in the state of Oregon. He has had long experience and his business 
record has gained for him an enviable reputation throughout the northern 
Pacific coast country. Mr. Luke was born in Grass Valley, California, and is a 
son of Thomas S. and Mary Ellen Luke, both of whom were natives of England. 
They were married in their native country and in 1879 came to the United 
States. They lived in Nevada and California, where Mr. Luke was engaged in 
mining for many years. In 1897 he went to Alaska as assistant United States 
collector of customs and resided at Skagway until 1902, when he brought his 
family back to the States and located in Portland, where he and his wife spent 
their remaining years. Both parents died in 1924, the mother passing away 
about six days after the death of her husband.

     Thomas C. Luke was about six months old when his parents first came to 
Portland, and when he was eight years old he accompanied them to Alaska, where 
he received his early school training. On his return to Portland he went to 
work as a messenger boy for Max M. Smith, who was engaged in the florist 
business and who had married a cousin of Mr. Luke's. Mr. Smith had established 
the business in 1902 and was at that time located at 150 Fifth street, where 
he occupied a small store room, ten by thirty feet. In 1912 the business was 
moved to its present location at 1411/2 Sixth street. Mr. Luke applied himself 
closely in order to learn the business, and being a natural lover of flowers, 
was in his element. In the course of time he acquired a third interest in the 
business, and in 1920 bought out Mr. Smith, thus becoming the sole owner. He 
has many excellent connections throughout the coast country, so that he is 
insured a constant supply of the choicest flowers at all times of the year. He 
has built up a large business, shipping flowers to all sections of Oregon and 
Washington, and has established a number of agencies at various points. He 
issues a coded catalog and in every way has shown a progressive and 
enterprising spirit in the management of his business. He is a member of the 
Florists' Telegraph Delivery Association of America, through which flowers may 
be delivered on telegraphic order in any part of the country. He has 
specialized in fine table and wedding work and in cut flowers alone does an 
annual business of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He keeps a regular 
crew of eighteen people and during the Rose festival employs one hundred and 
ten people, who are largely employed in decorating the floats. In 1927 Mr. 
Luke decorated twenty-one floats for the parade, on which he took six first 
prizes, and during the festival week he and his organization handled two 
million flowers. About forty per cent of his business is by telephone orders. 
Careful and painstaking in his attention to the wishes and tastes of his 
patrons, he has made many friends, who appreciate his earnest and effective 
efforts to render the highest type of service.

     In 1917, in Portland, Mr. Luke was united in marriage to Miss Neita 
Tobey, who was born at Merwin, near Grants Pass, in southern Oregon, and they 
have two children, Tommy and Sally Ann. Tommy Luke is a member of the Chamber 
of Commerce, the Rotary Club, the Advertising Club, the International 
Executive Association and the Progressive Business Men's Club. Fraternally, he 
is a member of Portland Lodge, No. 55, A. F. & A. M.; Portland Consistory, A. 
A. S. R.; a life member of Al Kader Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.; and a member of 
Portland Lodge No. 142, B. P. O. E.; the Ancient Order of United Workmen and 
the Woodmen of the World. He is a great lover of music and has served for 
several years as song leader of the Rotary Club. A man of genial and affable 
manner, honorable and fair in every relation of life, and evincing a 
commendable interest in the welfare of those about him, he commands the 
sincere esteem of his fellowmen and is regarded as one of Portland's 
representative business men.

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