TOM MALONE / 1938-2004
Aloha Petroleum CEO
cared most about employees
Tom Malone, president and chief executive officer of Aloha Petroleum Ltd., died Monday in Arkansas after a long illness. He was 65.
Malone had headed the company since 1988, during which time it grew to more than 60 Aloha Gasoline retail and Island Mini-Mart convenience stores employing 280 people. The company built and operates the state's largest fuel storage terminal, at Barbers Point.
"Of all the things he accomplished during his life, he often said he was proudest of his employees," said Bob Maynard, Aloha vice president and chief financial officer.
Employees received personally signed birthday cards with gasoline certificates each year. Coffee mugs given out each year would be boxed with educational or inspirational messages reflected in the mugs' artwork.
Malone served on the boards of community and professional organizations including Diamond Head Theatre, Hawaii Theatre Center, Hawaii Business Round Table, Hawaii Executives Council, the Western Petroleum Marketers Association and the Hawaii Petroleum Marketers Association.
"At board meetings, Tom was always the one who cut straight through to the point of discussions, incisively and yet always in a polite and caring way," said Deena Dray, executive director of Diamond Head Theatre. "He acted with great warmth and thoughtfulness toward our staff and often sent me supportive notes to say how proud he was to be associated with us."
Malone was also a trustee of the Charles R. Kendall Scholarship and Education Fund, a Hawaii Government Employees Association program.
Association Executive Director Russell Okata praised Malone's support of the program.
"He was a true gentleman who worked hard to make Hawaii a better place for all of us," Okata said.
Malone is survived by wife Janet; mother Erma Baskett of Oklahoma City; and children Michael Thomas of Oklahoma, Stephanie Gail of California and Christopher Edward of Texas.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Malone's memory be sent to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 51 Locust Ave., Suite 201, New Canaan, CT 06940.
Services are pending.
