Tom Ganley, who sold cars part-time as a high school student and went on to build the largest automotive group in Ohio, died Wednesday night at the Cleveland Clinic. He was 73 and a resident of Brecksville.
Though he was best known for the dealerships that put his name on virtually every make of car on the road, his interests included ownership of insurance, real estate, aviation and finance companies. His accomplishments included helping to take down the Cleveland mafia.
"It's deeply moving, the loss of our father, grandfather and husband,'' said Ganley's son, Ken. "He was a great guy. He was my dad. He did a lot of great things for a lot of people, made a lot of great friends over the years.''
Thomas D. Ganley was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in 2010, when he beat five lesser-known opponents in the Republican primary, but lost in November to incumbent Rep. Betty Sutton.
"I'm not a politician," he said, explaining why he was running. "I never will be a politician. I'm a businessman. And I think it's time that businessmen are in Washington, D.C."
He headed and helped fund Crime Stoppers of Northern Ohio, and was named Man of the Year by the Cuyahoga County Police Chiefs Association in 2006 for his support of local law enforcement.
Police said he regularly donated use of his private plane to bring out-of-town family members to the funerals or bedsides of fallen officers.
The FBI gave him its highest civilian honor, the Louis E. Peters Memorial Service Award, in 2007, citing his help in fighting organized crime in fighting organized crime in Cleveland.
Chanel grad from Garfield Heights
Thomas D. Ganley grew up in Garfield Heights, where he met his future wife, Lois, as a 10-year-old in grade school.
He graduated in the inaugural class of St. Peter Chanel High School in Bedford in 1961, briefly attended Kent State University and joined the sales staff of Frank Nero Lincoln Mercury in Bedford, rising to general manager.
He left in 1968 to open his own dealership, Eastway American Motors in Euclid. He purchased a second outlet in North Olmsted in 1976 and then began to add more.
"He was a tremendous motivator, coach and mentor,'' Ken Ganley said. "His employees had a tremendous amount of respect for him.''
Stood up to mafia
In the 1980s, Tom Ganley spent two years helping the FBI catch organized crime figures who tried to extort money from his company. Death threats were directed at him and his family when the mobsters realized he was working with the FBI and would be testifying against them at trial.
"Mr. Ganley refused to be intimidated by these criminals and consented to having FBI agents live at his residence to provide security for himself and his family," the FBI said in honoring him with the Peters award.
Businessman ran for Congress
Though he had never held political office, in 2009 he announced a bid for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retirement of George Voinovich. Facing a primary against the party-backed Rob Portman, he withdrew and filed as a candidate for the 13th District House seat.
"I consider myself to be the most conservative person in the race," said Ganley, who had become a Tea Party favorite. "I'm a Republican and proud of it, and I'm very, very conservative."
As it turned out, the campaign served partly to illustrate how hard it can be for a long-time businessman to win a political race.
Opposition ads noted that he or his businesses had been sued more than 400 times, including a suit that accused one dealership of discriminating against black employees; Ganley said the eventual $300,000 settlement was not an admission of guilt. The Plain Dealer found that the complaints against his dealerships were about average for a business of that size, and perhaps fewer than might be expected.
Five weeks before the election, a would-be campaign volunteer sued him, alleging that he had made unwanted sexual advances. Six months later, a county grand jury indicted him on seven related counts.
Charges dropped after election
Prosecutors dropped the charges before trial in July 2011, citing "the desire of the victim not to go forward." The suit was settled in 2013. Terms were not disclosed.
Ganley maintained the allegations were "lies, slander and false," and motivated by money.
"I am going to try and rebuild my life," he said when the charges were dropped, "but I will do it with the sobering recognition of how quickly an unfounded allegation can completely destroy a lifetime of good work."
Ken Ganley said his father remained focused on Northeast Ohio.
"He did a lot of things for the community,'' he said. "He always looked for ways to give back to the community. It was always important for him to give back to the community, which gave back to him.''
Survivors include his wife, four children and eight grandchildren.
Services are pending. This story will be updated when services are announced.