Parishioner Spotlight: Tom Carter

Hometown: Dayton, Tennessee; moved to Cincinnati with his family around age six.

Episcopal affiliation: Started coming to All Saints about nine years ago.

Profession: Owned a roofing company; was a roof consultant and independent roofing materials salesman; currently a roof inspector.

You are relatively new to the Episcopal Church?

Yes, I was raised Southern Baptist, then we moved to Cincinnati. My family tried one Baptist Church here, but it wasn’t a good fit. I didn’t attend church for many years. Then my wife and I attended Hyde Park Community Church for a couple of years in the early ‘90s.

How did you end up at All Saints?

I have lived on Parkman since 1985. The former rector, Eileen, would do these community dinners once a month. I didn’t know anything about Episcopalians, but I went to about three or four of the dinners. They were really well-attended, always 40 to 50 people. Some of my neighbors I’d known for years would be there. The thing that impressed me was no one was trying to do the hard-sell about attending the church. One Sunday, I decided to come.

Why is it such a good fit?

I can relate to the smallness of the church and the feeling of community here.

How did you become the Senior Warden?

I was recruited by the old rector, Eileen, to be on the vestry and then she asked if I would serve as Senior Warden. I didn’t realize what I was getting into!

What exactly does a Senior Warden do?

I lead the vestry and have responsibilities tied to the building, everything that keeps the building functioning.

What are you most proud of?

Keeping things going here through some difficult times and bringing in some good people with the right skill sets in the right positions, like Dorothy [Powell] as Junior Warden and McKenzie [Hammel] as treasurer.

When did you get into the roofing business?

The first five years of my working life, I worked at Hilton Davis Chemical Company and Inmont Corporation. Eventually, I wanted to do something else. My dad had always been in the construction business, and he and my younger brother had started a roofing business, so I went to work with them. In 1981, I borrowed $5,000 and started my own roofing company and hired my best friend’s younger brother. Eventually, I had 30 full-time employees. Our speciality became repairs on commercial flat roofs. I had the company from 1981 to 1993. After that, I became a roof consultant for some of my former customers, but mainly I sold roofing materials for several companies until I retired in 2019. Recently I took a part-time position for an environmental company to do roof inspections on new schools.

What is most unexpected thing that ever happened on a roof?

In 1995, I was contacted by an architect who had been retained by the GSA to re-roof the IRS Service Center in Covington. While the new roof was going on, I got up on it to take some photos. As I was taking the pictures, I received a phone call on my old-style, large mobile phone that was in my front jacket pocket. I was standing in a patch of algae on an old part of the roof, and when I reached to get the phone, my feet just slid out from under me. I immediately knew I was hurt because the pain was immense. The roofing contractor’s employees came running, and I went to the hospital, I was comforted to learn that I hadn’t broken my neck, but I did break my collarbone. I recovered and that roof remains in place 26 years later.

What do you do for fun?

I like to play golf and go to UC football and basketball games. I love the Reds and love/hate the Bengals.

What is something that a lot of people don’t know about you?

At 17, I became a Pro Putt-Putt Golfer and traveled the country playing in tournaments. I won a couple and played in the national championship every year off and on until I was about 30.