TOM 'BIG T' GALE Director of Operations/Executive Bourbon Steward | Virtue Feed & Grain
SIDE GIG: TOM IS AN AUCTIONEER
Life is too short to be anything but happy. Nobody understands this more than someone who worked in the funeral business for 35 years like Tom “Big T” Gale. Growing up in the Northern Neck region of Virginia, his pharmacist father probably saw his life path clearer than Tom did at the time; making him promise to stay in the field he studied for at least 10 years, which he did. His father also said he would grow up to love life, bourbon, and to be of service to others in need, which he also did. Being a funeral director requires being on call 24/7 to be there with people on the worst day of their lives and seeing some of the best and worst in families. Tom said he was very blessed to have his wife support him in his profession and for her support when he knew he was done with the
business. After retiring, Tom and Lisa decided to take their boat and move to Key West, where they stayed for two years before changing directions to begin a second life here in Alexandria. Tom, now Director of Operations and Executive Bourbon Steward at Virtue Feed and Grain, is lovingly referred to as Big T by customers and his work family. Big T is following the path his father knew was coming - bringing the joy of bourbon to the world. The thing he loves the most about this second chapter of his life is being in the service business. People want to be there, they want what is being offered, and it makes them happy. He never considers going to Virtue as a day at work. He considers his coworkers his family, and is grateful every day to William Smith and his family for bringing him into the fold and literally saving his life when he had a stroke on the restaurant floor. He is living out his philosophy, “Every day is a holiday, and every meal is a feast”, never taking a moment for granted in his life.
JONATHAN THORPE
PHOTOGRAPHER | JONATHAN THORPE PHOTOGRAPHY
One doesn’t normally spend years in school to become a doctor only to turn around 30 days into practicing and walk away to chase a new passion. However, that’s exactly what Jonathan Thorpe did. When Jonathan graduated from Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2008, he received a camera as a graduation gift from his mother. That is where his life began to change course. He worked his first gig that same year. With no professional experience under his belt, he shot a major sports tournament and much to his surprise sold one of his photos that was then seen in sporting shops across America. From then on photography became his passion, with a side of motorcycles. Last year Jonathan was in a major motorcycle accident in which he was thrown from his bike and was clinically dead for 4 minutes. “Life is so much better after you die, it’s like now I can truly live.” Letting nothing stand in the way of his passions, he’s still out on the open road, still working on bikes and of course shooting every picture he can, including this VIP spread.
GUILTY PLEASURE:JONATHAN HAS NEVER HAD A CUP OF COFFEE
Jonathan works with major national brands traveling the country for shoots as well as teaching and lecturing to help young photographers find their voice and confidence. His vision is focused and there is no looking back!
AUGUST 2020 • 21
