About Tom
TOM VLASSIS is a life-long resident of Des Moines. After attending North High School, Tom entered the U.S. Air Force in 1952, during the Korean War. After his discharge in September of 1956, he immediately enrolled in Drake University, completing his B.S. in Education in June of 1959. In 1963, he enrolled in the Drake College of Pharmacy, graduating in 1968 with a B.S. in Pharmacy. Throughout his college career, he worked 30 to 40 hours a week. Upon receiving his degree, he was hired as a full-time pharmacist at Franklin Pharmacy, located at 50th & Franklin, and in 1974, he and a partner purchased the Pharmacy. In 1978, they opened a second Pharmacy, with a third partner, at Omega Pharmacy which is still under the same ownership.
In 1973, Tom purchased his home on Lyndale Drive, where he still lives with his wife, Sophie Pargas Vlassis who he married in 1976. Tom and Sophie have hosted three foreign students, each for a year, and have had the pleasure of visiting them and their families in their homes in Greece and Japan.
In addition to serving on several civic boards and commissions, Tom has served the community and State in several other ways, presenting more than 300 drug education programs throughout the State of Iowa, and has made a number of presentations to audiences ranging from elementary students to senior citizens. For 19 years, Tom brought joy to hundreds of young children on Chrismas Eve as “Santa Claus” visiting their homes bringing them candy canes and holiday greetings.
Nationally, Tom has served on the Public Information Committee, and the Professional Standards Committee of the National Association of Retail Druggists, and several committees with the American Pharmaceutical Association.
He is currently a member of the Community and Economic Development (CED) Steering Committee of the National League of Cities.
In 1992, Tom re-instituted the Des Moines Youth Advisory Board (YAB), and has been the Council Liaison since that time. On two occasions Tom provided, from his personal funds, travel expenses for youth members to attend the National League of Cities annual meetings in Washington DC and Nashville, Tennessee.
Tom’s actual involvement with the City of Des Moines began in 1981 when he served as Director of Goods and Services for the Japan Arts Festival, followed by six years on the Plan and Zoning Commission. Tom was then elected to the Des Moines City Council in 1989 as Councilman for Ward One, a position he has held for twenty years.