Tom Moser : Thos. Moser

Tom’s personal interest in the art of language persuaded him to return to school where he earned a bachelor’s of science degree in Speech Education from the State University of New York in 1960. After graduation, he began teaching English at Ann Arbor (MI) High School. In the next four years, he earned both his master’s degree and doctorate in Speech Communications from the University of Michigan, and taught at state colleges in Ypsilanti, Michigan and Cortland, New York.

In the mid-1960s, Tom, Mary and their four young sons spent a year in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where Tom taught English at the College of Petroleum and Minerals. The year away from his workshop profoundly affected Tom, and he realized how much he missed the craft of woodworking. Upon returning to the U.S., Tom taught at the University of Maine, Orono and then at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine where he also directed the debate program.

In 1972, Tom left his tenured professorship to turn his woodworking hobby into a career and with their first advertisement in Down East magazine, Tom and Mary launched Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers.

What began as an intense exploration of craftsmanship— an experiment —has evolved into a business that employs more than 125 people, and has residential, professional and academic customers worldwide.

Forty years later, Tom remains active in the business, along with three of his four sons.