I N THE D RI VER'S S EAT BOATING AND FAMILY GO HAND IN HAND FOR THE FAMILY OF TOM AND JANE REESE
The Quad Cities is a region in northwestern Illinois and southeastern Iowa that consists of four primary cities: Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Rock Island and Moline in Illinois. This corner of the Midwest is home to Tom and Jane Reese, whose childhood along the Rock River, Mississippi River and the lakes that pepper this part of America, set the stage for a lifetime of boating enjoyment. Born and raised in the small farming community of Geneseo, Illinois, Tom remembers a modest farming home life punctuated by seasons in the sun and waters of the Midwest. “If we were not in the Rock River, we were in the Mississippi. There was also a lake on our farm where we spent a lot of time. I can hardly remember a time during the Summer we weren’t in a boat or in the water during my childhood. That is no doubt the source of my love of boating,” says Tom.
Tom, his brother and father traveled the world, building
The Reeses enjoy life on the water at Lake of the Ozarks,
the business together. Tom and his brother, Dennis, grew the
as well as Southwest Florida. Tom is retired now, after selling
company, taking it in new and exciting directions and markets.
his half of the family business to his older brother, Dennis. The
Today, Springfield is one of the largest gunmakers in the world.
business, Springfield Armory, Inc., is a fascinating story and
“Bob Reese was the classic American entrepreneur who believed
an important part of our nation’s history. In the 1970s, Tom’s
deeply in freedom and the American Dream. He was in the right
father, Bob Reese, a farmer, army surplus dealer, entrepreneur
place at the right time, and continued a legendary business.”
and gun lover (at age 17 Bob was the Trap Shooting Champion of
Tom says his father was the proverbial “gun nut;” while
North America) who was also involved in real estate, was able
Tom was always drawn to the water. He became a boating and
to license the name and procure equipment from Springfield
watersports enthusiast, but he was also drawn to the speed and
Armory and other U.S. goverment suppliers, which was founded
excitement of motorcycle racing, becoming a self-described
by George Washington in 1777 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
“motorcycle nut.” Tom became an accomplished off-road
The Armory propelled innovation and success in firearms and
motorcycle racer, participating in national and international
weaponry throughout America’s military history.
races and it became a major passion and part of his life. He quit
Fulfilling a lifelong dream, Reese founded a new Springfield
motorcycle racing in the 1980s, due to numerous injuries.
Armory in Geneseo, Illinois, where the company has spent
Tom spent his honeymoon with wife Jane in 1987 at Lake of
decades manufacturing legendary firearms such as the 1903
the Ozarks, and together they found a love of boating that has
Springfield Rifle, M1 Garand rifle, the M14 rifle and 1911.45
endured to this day. Over the years, the Reeses have owned
pistol, designed by legendary firearm inventors, John Moses
multiple Sea Ray boats including a 280 Bowrider, 40 Sundancer,
Browning and John Garand, to name a couple. Additionally,
47 Sedan Bridge, 52 Sundancer, and 58 Sundancer. All of the
The XD (Extreme Duty) line of handguns is a recent innovation
boats have been named in honor of the gun industry. Tom has
of Springfield, with which it is having tremendous success.
always loved performance boating as well, no doubt related to
“Springfield Armory is best known for its durable, reliable, high-
his days racing motorcycles, and his first boats were models
quality firearms, manufacturing some of the most effective and
like a 26 Mach 1 with twin 454s, a 32 Baja, a 38 Baja, and now
beloved arms of all time. General George Patton called the M1
his "baby," Agent Orange, 42 MTI with twin 1350hps. The couple
‘the greatest battle implement ever devised.’ The 1911 pistol
also enjoyed cruising and purchased the Sea Rays to enjoy that
is the most beloved and most successful handgun of all time,”
aspect of boating as well. “Over the years the dock has become so
Tom says. “My father’s accomplishment and the opportunities
big it really needs its own zip code,” Tom says.
he gave to our family is a great only-in-America story of living your dream.”
For their latest boat, christened “Water Gun,” Tom and Jane bought an Azimut yacht for the first time, a 64 Azimut Flybridge,
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