Thomas Anton Vidmar

On the evening of Friday, August 1, Tom Vidmar – one of Clovis’ great champions of God, family and American values – succumbed to cancer and went home to be with his Lord. Tom was well known in our community as the founder and patriarch of Anlin Window Systems, on the corner of Tollhouse and Fowler in Clovis. Passers by the facility knew right where Tom stood on matters of faith and American values, with a large wooden cross lighted above a water fountain on the corner and the words “One Nation Under God” painted boldly on the building’s windows. His annual 4th of July military tribute and Christmas lighted displays were Tom’s way of sharing the things he held dear with the community. Tom never saw Anlin’s growth and success as a reason to boast – rather in humility he was grateful that it gave him the opportunity to bless others.

Thomas Anton Vidmar, Tom, was born Friday, March 13, 1944 in Cleveland Ohio, the oldest son of Felix Anton Vidmar, an immigrant from Slovenia, and Pauline Denton, a native of Tennessee. Tom was proud that his father had served in the US Marines during WWII, instilling a love for the military that would stay with Tom for his lifetime. But a difficult home life and unfortunate circumstances meant that Tom, at the age of 14, had to become the primary caretaker for himself and his two younger brothers, Jerry and Jimmy.

In 1958, Tom had to quit high school to work his first job as a stock boy at the corner grocery store. Later that year, Tom went to work across the street from the grocery store at a gas station pumping gas and changing tires seven days a week.

In 1961, when Tom was 17, his brothers moved in with an aunt, and Tom joined the US Navy. He worked as a jet mechanic for two years in Beeville Texas, then quickly advanced to petty officer third class and was transferred to an attack squadron at Lemoore Naval Air Station. He deployed on the USS Hancock patrolling the coast of Vietnam as the conflict began.

After returning to Lemoore, Tom and some of his fellow sailors would often drive up to Fresno to cruise. On Valentines Day 1964, on one of these trips, Tom met Linda Lee Platten. Tom said he knew in minutes that Linda was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, and he asked for her phone number. Tom called the next day and spent the day with Linda’s family – her widowed mother, Georgia, and three brothers. Tom seemed to fall in love with Linda’s entire family and wanted to be a part of it. He asked Linda to marry him just three weeks later. Linda was just as sure, and they married on July 3, 1964. Nine months later, Tom was deployed again. After completing his service in the Navy in 1965, Tom and Linda moved to Ohio. There, Tom worked as a pipefitter on an apprenticeship during the day and attended school at night to earn his high school degree.

Tom and Linda had their first son, Greg in June of 1966. Tom wanted to go to college, so he and Linda moved back to Fresno where tuition was less expensive. Tom worked nights at a truck stop and attended Fresno City College. During that time, they lived with Linda’s mother and three brothers.

In 1968 Tom and Linda bought their first home not far from Linda’s mothers house. That same year, they welcomed their second son, Eric. Tom graduated from Fresno City College in 1970 and in 1972 earned his B.S. in Industrial Technology and a minor in Business from Fresno State University. With degree in hand, he went to work for Ford Motor Company in the Parts & Service Division as a representative in Milpitas, California. In 1973, the Vidmars moved to San Jose. Tom was promoted to the position of Parts & Service representative for the Western United States – a job that required extensive travel. During this time Linda attended San Jose State and earned her teaching degree in 1981. Tom decided it was time to retire from Ford Motor Company so he could spend more time with his family.

The Vidmars moved back to the Fresno area in 1981, with Tom joining his uncle in the dog food business. In 1984, he was presented the opportunity to purchase Moore Insulation. Tom liked being close to home, but he felt the Insulation business would not provide the long term opportunities he wanted for his sons, so he started planning to build his own manufacturing plant to make and distribute custom vinyl replacement

windows. On February 19, 1991, Tom incorporated Anlin Industries (Anlin Window Systems) became a manufacturing franchise for the CertainTeed Corporation and began making windows with five employees. Linda insisted on naming the company telling Tom, “If we’re putting our life savings on the line, I want to at least name the company.” Tom agreed wholeheartedly. Linda took the first two letters of Tom’s father’s middle name, “Anton,” and added the first three letters of her name to create “Anlin.” Sons Greg and Eric were two of those first five employees. They had both earned their business degrees, Greg from Fresno Pacific University, and Eric from Fresno State University.

Within 10 years, Anlin Window Systems became the fastest growing window manufacturer on the West Coast. Within 15 years, “Anlin” became its own brand of products and one of the largest window manufacturers in the United States, eventually employing 350 people at the current Clovis facility. Today, the business remains strong on the values that Tom instilled. When Tom adopted the slogan, “Quality Windows from Our Family to Yours,” it was a personal commitment shared by every team member.

Tom saw the company’s employees as an extension of his own family. His company name badge displayed his simple, self-appointed title, “Grandpa.” From the business office to every department of the window manufacturing line, Tom knew employees by name. He was always concerned about them and their families, and particularly relished knowing when new babies were being born into the “Anlin family.” In his work jeans and trusty plaid shirt, Tom always took time to walk around the production floor to remind every team member that Grandpa cared. Tom showed his appreciation in many ways, including Anlin Family Days, Christmas parties, monthly BBQ’s, horse shoe tournaments, bowling tournaments and deep sea fishing trips. In addition to a great working environment, Tom wanted to give his employees tools to succeed in life. He hired two full-time teachers and provided English classes five days a week to any employee that needed or wanted to become fluent in English. It was this kind of dedication to his employees that made Tom’s commitment contagious. Fittingly, Anlin Window Systems was voted “Best Place To Work” by its employees. Tom was also inducted into the Clovis Hall of Fame and Fresno City College 100 Stars for 100 Years.

He always credited Linda, his wife of 50 years, for the closeness the Vidmar family enjoyed. One of his greatest joys was having their son's and their families at church every Sunday and that their church family always knew to leave two rows open for the Vidmar bunch. Grandpa rarely missed any of his grandkids’ sporting or academic events and rarely stopped telling others how proud he was of them all.

The impact Tom had on his entire Anlin family, his church family and our community will be long remembered, and is especially treasured by his wife, Linda, his sons and their wives: Greg (Pamela), and Eric (Natalie), and his beloved grandchildren Brannon, Bryce, Brielle, Kaylee, Brooke, Brandy, Nash and Shelby Vidmar.

A private graveside ceremony will be held for the family at Clovis Cemetery. On Saturday, August 9 from 10:30 to 12:00, the family will host a public celebration of Tom’s life at Grandpa’s Grill in the Anlin Window Systems facility. Guests should travel south on Fowler from Herndon Avenue and turn right onto Los Altos Avenue on the north side of the Anlin facility, where you will be directed to the Anlin employee parking lot. (Look for the John Wayne cutouts.) In lieu of flowers, the Vidmar family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warriors Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256. Arrangements: Boice Funeral Home.

Arrangements under the direction of Boice Funeral Home, Clovis, CA.