Horse owner, community leader Dr. Tom King Jr. dies at 83

April 24, 2008

Dr. Thomas William King Jr., a former director of the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association and a longtime Standardbred owner who campaigned the Ohio Hall of Famer Berlin Flyer, died Sunday, April 20, at his home in Butler, Pa., at the age of 83. Dr. King�s son, Tom III, is also a Standardbred owner and won the 2005 Peter Haughton Memorial with Keystone Savage.

Born in Grove City, Pa., Dr. King attended Knox College and Grove City College and in 1942 enlisted in the Army Air Force and served as a bombardier. He was honorably discharged in December of 1945. He graduated in 1950 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dentistry where he was a member of Delta Sigma Delta fraternity. During the Korean War, Dr. King served in Korea with the 3rd Infantry Division after having enlisted in 1949 with the Army Dental Corps. He later served as a commanding officer of the Medical Company, National Guard.

Dr. King married Lois Lord Stein in 1948 and together they moved to Butler County, where his father had briefly practiced in the area in the 1920s. They established dental offices and for many years Dr. King maintained his practice of general dentistry in an office with both his father and his brother, the late Dr. Richard J. King, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. 1986, he retired from the practice of dentistry.

An Eagle Scout and Boy Scout leader, Dr. King he was honored as a Distinguished Citizen of 1998 by the Moraine Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America. Dr. King was a founding member of Christ Community United Methodist Church. Additionally, he was a 50-Year member of Hebron Lodge 0575 in Mercer, PA; Veterans of Foreign Wars; American Legion; Disabled American Veterans; and a Life Member of the Pennsylvania Dental Association.

In addition, Dr. King continually served the community in which he lived. From 1960-1961 and again from 1967-1968 he served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives representing the 11th Legislative district. Following his retirement from dentistry he was elected to a four-year term as Butler County Commissioner. He was also the Republican nominee for Congress in 1958 and campaigned with then Vice President Richard M. Nixon and met President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Dr. King and his wife followed their horses to tracks in New York, Kentucky and Pompano Park in Florida. Counted among Dr. King's happiest moments was the night in 2001 that his horse Berlin Flyer 1:56 ($617,723), a winner of 83 races, was named to the Hall of Fame at Northfield Park in Ohio.

In addition to his wife and son, Dr. King is survived by two daughters, Cheryl Ann Walsh and Mary Elizabeth Owlett; seven grandchildren, Emma, Caroline and William Henry King; Michael E. Walsh Jr.; Charles Andrew Walsh; and Jennifer Sue and Tricia Elizabeth Owlett; and one great-granddaughter, Makana Sun Walsh; his brother, Dr. David King; four sisters, Jean Slifka, Mary Lou Hood, Patricia Redfoot and Barbara Beatty.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Moraine Trails Council--Boy Scouts of America, or the Butler (Pa.) Area Public Library.

Funeral services will be private for close friends and family.

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