Russ Tom       August 18, 1960-October 8, 2006
Russ had a strong interest in helping others to succeed which was evident in those that worked with him, as well as in the charitable rides that he helped put together for Boyer's Children's Clinic and others. Thunder Ride was one of his favorites as well as Children's Ride and Sun & Surf Run for MDA.

Russ was always helping those who needed him, Brock Wheaton for instance was helped by a benefit day at DHD, raising $36,000 for his medical treatment. Downtown Harley as well as other dealerships in the area contribute to the Seattle Cossacks.
 

Born Aug. 18, 1960, Russ Tom entered the motorcycle business at his family's Seattle home in Rainier Valley.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Way, his father -- Carmen Tom -- started fixing up bikes. He began selling them in front of the house, and the business started in 1958.
It did so well -- selling brands such as Triumph, Vespa, Suzuki and Harley-Davidson -- that the family tore the house down to build a larger structure.
From kindergarten through high school, Russ Tom attended Seattle Christian Schools. There, his knack for design accelerated.
"He was a natural," his brother said. "He was a real perfectionist and wanted something different."
By the 1990s, he had taken over his father's motorcycle-shop business. Russ Tom helped develop a distinctive "coffin"-style gas tank.
He was instrumental in opening the company's First Avenue location downtown, which focuses on Harley clothing and accessories. The Tukwila shop carries bikes.
One of his first creations was based on a 1972 Honda CB750. He also created custom bikes with names such as "Mean Streak" and "Beluga".
"They weren't retro-Gothic stuff," he said. "His work was very innovative and futuristic. That's not something you see a lot in the custom-bike world."

In April, he sold the Downtown Harley Davidson Dealership to pursue other interests.In recent months, he focused on real estate development. He had bought 800 acres near Mount Rainier and wanted to subdivide the land to build homes.

He is survived by his father Carmen Tom, 80, and his mother, Donna Tom, 76. Both live in Maple Valley. He has two daughters, Emily 11 and Alexandra 15, and three brothers, Rick, John and Mike.The family asks that any donations be made to Seattle Christian Schools, 18301 Military Road S., SeaTac, 98188, or Boyer Children's Clinic, 1850 Boyer Ave. E., Seattle, 98112.
 

Please join us for a ride to memorial service on Saturday, October 14, 2006. The ride will leave Downtown Harley-Davidson at 12:30pm for an escorted ride to Puyallup Church of the Nazarene 1026 7th Ave SW Puyallup, WA for a memorial service at 2pm. All are welcome to attend.
Downtown Harley-Davidson will close after the ride has departed.