Born in 1926 in Carrollton, Tom Vandergriff moved with his family to Arlington in 1937. He graduated from the University of Southern California in 1947, intending to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. After college, he returned to Arlington, worked at his father’s car dealerships, and married his teenage sweetheart Anna Waynette Smith, in 1949. Together they raised four children.

Although Vandergriff didn’t have political aspirations, he became involved with the Chamber of Commerce and decided to run for mayor. Elected in 1951 at just 25 years old, he served 13 terms. Under his visionary leadership, Arlington transformed from a small town of 7,700 into a booming city of over 150,000 by the time he left office in 1977. He was instrumental in bringing General Motors, Six Flags Over Texas, and the Texas Rangers to the city, though he deflected sole credit for these successes.

Vandergriff’s service extended further as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and later as a Tarrant County Judge, before retiring in 2007. He passed away on December 30, 2010, and was interred at Moore Memorial Gardens. Today, North Texas, and especially Arlington, continues to feel his profound impact.

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Blog post by Jason S. Sullivan, 12-30-25