Meyer has impressive body of work

When Thomas L. Meyer was named as the recipient of the first Lifetime Achievement Award for his accomplishments as a real estate agent, he said he was surprised.

No one else was.

The 200 members of the Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors -- a group he helped start 50 years ago -- gave him a standing ovation at the board's Christmas banquet on Dec. 5.

"The last thought that I had was that anything like that would happen to me," said Meyer, 84. "I just saw this as my job, my life's work."

What a body of work it has been. In his 57 years as a Cape Girardeau real estate agent, Meyer estimates he has helped bring 3,000 jobs to the area.

He had a hand in brokering deals that brought in Kmart, Newth River Co., Brokers Bonded Warehouse, DOW Chemical, Georgia Pacific Lumber and Hardware Wholesalers Inc., among many others. Some of those companies have since moved on.

But not the biggest fish he helped catch. He helped broker the deal that brought Procter & Gamble, which today is the largest employer in Cape Girardeau County with 1,600 workers.

He's accomplished a lot, but Meyer is never boastful about all he's done.

"I see it as a privilege," he said. "I just knew my way around. I would go anywhere, all over the United States. I'd hear of a customer and off we'd go."

His daughter, Beth Meyer McFerron, also a real estate agent, said the award came about because the board wanted a way to recognize Meyer.

"This man has truly done so much for the community," she said. "We need to create an award -- a rare award -- to commemorate this man with this great honor."

Meyer's story is a fascinating one. He was born in the little German-settled town of Apple Creek as one of 11 children. He spoke little English until he was 12. In 1941, he married Helen Giroir and later joined the Air Force during World War II and served as a flight administrator.

He moved to Cape Girardeau in 1946.

"When I came here, I knew nothing," he said. "I didn't even know what the word real estate meant."

He recalls a key chat with a man named Woodrow Wilson, who worked in the city's unemployment office and was named for the former president.

Wilson told Meyer that a man named Ben Vinyard, a real estate agent here, had said to send over any young men interested in selling real estate. So Meyer met with Vinyard, who was about 72 years old.

"I told him I wanted to know everything. I guess I was being kind of bold, but I was interested. He showed me the fundamentals, but then on I had to learn myself and I learned by doing."

At first, there was a demand for homes, but there weren't many available. Steadily, the market grew and Meyer recalls selling as many as 100 residential units a year. With today's 330 agents, that would be unheard of these days.

He remembers the facts and figures from yesterday and today. The average price of a home in 1946 was $4,500, Meyer remembers. Today, it's $95,000 to $110,000.

In 1950, Meyer opened his own company on the site where it still sits at 230 N. Sprigg St. In 1958, he started selling commercial property.

He also has been involved in the community. In 1954, he and a handful of independent local Realtors organized the Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors. Meyer continues to be one of the board's most active members.

In his spare time, he teaches a Missouri Real Estate Commission Course, that is required for all new licensees. Who better to teach them?

"Real estate is what you make of it," he said, likely echoing words his class hears. "If you're aggressive, you'll get it."

He turns 85 on Dec. 29. He's still at the office every morning.

"There's nothing like it," he said. "Nobody has enjoyed it any more than I. I have never missed a day. I fell in love with it."

For Thomas L. Meyer, every day still offers a new deal. Every sale is a new couple, a new situation. People still need homes. Business people still need property.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will not be given casually. Meyer has set the bar high.

Scott Moyers is the business editor of the Southeast Missourian.