By John Hacker| Carthage Press
The late Carthage Attorney Tom Klinginsmith will be one of a number of people honored on a float in the annual Rose Bowl Parade, Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif.
The Heartland Lions Eye Banks announced that Klinginsmith will be one of seven Eye Bank donors from Missouri, Illinois and Kansas, and eight recipients from Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois and Kansas who will be honored on the group’s “Donate Life Seize the Day!” Rose Parade Float.
“Carpe Diem (Latin for ‘seize the day’) was one of Tom’s favorite sayings,” said Carol Klinginsmith, Tom Klinginsmith’s widow. “When they called and asked if I would consider allowing his name on the float, I didn’t hesitate. I was very proud to say yes.”
Carol Klinginsmith will be with family in the Kansas City Area watching the parade. She said the float will be the 22nd in this year’s parade, which will feature 45 flower-covered floats, according to the website www.tournamentofroses.com.
According to the Eye Bank, the Donate Life Seize the Day! float brings to life the 2011 Rose Parade theme, Building Dreams, Friendships and Memories, with colorful kites soaring in the wind as donor families, living donors and transplant recipients make new memories through a precious moment.
The tails of the kites are adorned with 60 memorial "floragraph" portraits of deceased donors whose legacies lift the kites and hopes of those in need of transplants. The float's 24 float riders, led by three walkers, honor all donors and the everyday dreams they make possible through the gift of life. Thousands of eye, organ and tissue donors nationwide will be memorialized with roses dedicated by loved ones; each rose bears a vial with a personal message of love, hope and remembrance.
Carol Klinginsmith said she’s sent in the rose that will honor her late husband, who was an attorney and civic leader in Carthage.
Carol Klinginsmith said Tom’s decision to donate his corneas helped two people recover their sight, while his donation of connective tissue helped more than 60 people lead better lives.
The Heartland Eye Banks posted a story about Tom Klinginsmith on its website www.hleb.org.
In that story, Carol Klinginsmith talked about her husband’s role strengthening communities around the area by helping not-for-profits.
She said He was instrumental in helping numerous nonprofits in Carthage, Joplin and Neosho get off the ground, and worked as a child advocate through the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program in Joplin.
“Thomas was described in the community as a ‘good old country lawyer,’” Carol Klinginsmith said in an interview on the website. “He went the extra mile and often worked out special deals with those who couldn’t afford legal help. If all someone could afford was $5 a month, that’s what he would charge them.”
Thomas Klinginsmith was also an active Missouri Civil War Foundation board of directors member, an avid fisherman and a gardening enthusiast. In fact, his garden was recognized throughout the community, since according to Carol Klinginsmith, “Anybody could come by and pick whatever they wanted.”
Carol Klinginsmith said knowing Thomas’ caring spirit, it came as no surprise to Carol Ann when Thomas made the pledge to become an eye, organ and tissue donor by signing the back of his driver’s license. After he passed away from a heart attack in 2008, Carol Klingsmith had no reservations regarding the donation decision.
“Donation was what Thomas would have wanted,” she said. “There was absolutely no hesitation on his part to be a donor. It was his wish, and I was going to honor it. Even though he had cataracts, he was able to donate his corneas to someone in Wisconsin and another person outside the U.S.
“Understanding that Thomas helped people through his donation was comforting, especially at the beginning. I know he is still able to live on in so many different ways.”
The Heartland Lions Eye Banks announced that Klinginsmith will be one of seven Eye Bank donors from Missouri, Illinois and Kansas, and eight recipients from Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois and Kansas who will be honored on the group’s “Donate Life Seize the Day!” Rose Parade Float.
“Carpe Diem (Latin for ‘seize the day’) was one of Tom’s favorite sayings,” said Carol Klinginsmith, Tom Klinginsmith’s widow. “When they called and asked if I would consider allowing his name on the float, I didn’t hesitate. I was very proud to say yes.”
Carol Klinginsmith will be with family in the Kansas City Area watching the parade. She said the float will be the 22nd in this year’s parade, which will feature 45 flower-covered floats, according to the website www.tournamentofroses.com.
According to the Eye Bank, the Donate Life Seize the Day! float brings to life the 2011 Rose Parade theme, Building Dreams, Friendships and Memories, with colorful kites soaring in the wind as donor families, living donors and transplant recipients make new memories through a precious moment.
The tails of the kites are adorned with 60 memorial "floragraph" portraits of deceased donors whose legacies lift the kites and hopes of those in need of transplants. The float's 24 float riders, led by three walkers, honor all donors and the everyday dreams they make possible through the gift of life. Thousands of eye, organ and tissue donors nationwide will be memorialized with roses dedicated by loved ones; each rose bears a vial with a personal message of love, hope and remembrance.
Carol Klinginsmith said she’s sent in the rose that will honor her late husband, who was an attorney and civic leader in Carthage.
Carol Klinginsmith said Tom’s decision to donate his corneas helped two people recover their sight, while his donation of connective tissue helped more than 60 people lead better lives.
The Heartland Eye Banks posted a story about Tom Klinginsmith on its website www.hleb.org.
In that story, Carol Klinginsmith talked about her husband’s role strengthening communities around the area by helping not-for-profits.
She said He was instrumental in helping numerous nonprofits in Carthage, Joplin and Neosho get off the ground, and worked as a child advocate through the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program in Joplin.
“Thomas was described in the community as a ‘good old country lawyer,’” Carol Klinginsmith said in an interview on the website. “He went the extra mile and often worked out special deals with those who couldn’t afford legal help. If all someone could afford was $5 a month, that’s what he would charge them.”
Thomas Klinginsmith was also an active Missouri Civil War Foundation board of directors member, an avid fisherman and a gardening enthusiast. In fact, his garden was recognized throughout the community, since according to Carol Klinginsmith, “Anybody could come by and pick whatever they wanted.”
Carol Klinginsmith said knowing Thomas’ caring spirit, it came as no surprise to Carol Ann when Thomas made the pledge to become an eye, organ and tissue donor by signing the back of his driver’s license. After he passed away from a heart attack in 2008, Carol Klingsmith had no reservations regarding the donation decision.
“Donation was what Thomas would have wanted,” she said. “There was absolutely no hesitation on his part to be a donor. It was his wish, and I was going to honor it. Even though he had cataracts, he was able to donate his corneas to someone in Wisconsin and another person outside the U.S.
“Understanding that Thomas helped people through his donation was comforting, especially at the beginning. I know he is still able to live on in so many different ways.”
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