In Northern Nevada, Thomas S. Dolan’s name was always linked to kindness and high-quality cars. He died on September 12, 2024, leaving an indelible mark on the town he loved.
There was more to Tom Dolan than just being a wealthy car magnate. He was also a man who was deeply committed to the place he called home, and this commitment showed in both his work and his many charitable activities.
Born on November 14, 1948, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, to the late Mark “Shanty” Dolan and Genevieve Faye Dolan, Tom was the eighth child and the youngest. He and his siblings Bobby, Nora, Darlene, Neal, Pat, Cathy, and Mike were raised in a home where commitment and hard work were normal.
It was when Tom was 11 years old that he got his first job, pumping gas and washing windshields at a gas station in Redlands, California. After his brother Mike, who went to the University of Nevada, Reno on a football scholarship, he followed him to Reno, Nevada, in 1969. Tom graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1972. He had studied social psychology with a minor in social welfare and prisons.
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In 1975, Don Weir Sr. made Tom an offer that would change his life: he could work at Reno Dodge selling cars with Don Weir Jr., who had been Tom’s college roommate and friend. Tom had been selling insurance before, so this was a big change for him.
But his unwavering determination and forward-looking vision helped him move from the detail/service department to sales, then to sales and finance management, and finally to general manager at Don Weir’s Carson City Dodge, Don Weir’s Tahoe Dodge Datsun, and Don Weir’s Reno Dodge.
He started working as a manager at Reno Toyota in 1982 and finally bought the business and turned it into the successful Dolan Toyota. Dolan Toyota grew into the Dolan Car Group, which is now the biggest car group in the area, under Tom’s direction.
Tom was equally dedicated to his family as he was to do his best work. The happy couple got married in Moraga, California, in 1973, and had three wonderful children: Ryan, Danielle, and Brady. Tom taught his kids the values of honesty and hard work as he grew his businesses.
From a young age, they all helped out with the family business with his help. Ryan is the CEO of Dolan Auto Group right now, and Brady is the COO. Their continued commitment shows how well Tom built the basis for his family’s legacy.
During his lifetime, Tom won a lot of awards that showed how dedicated he was to both being the best in the auto business and helping people in his community. Early in his career, he was recognized for his work in the auto industry. In 1987, the University of Nevada, Reno praised him for his important services to academic excellence.
Tom’s influence on the business was further recognized when he was named Toyota Pacesetter Club Market Leader in Car and Truck Sales in 1991. From 1998 to 2002, he led the DRTDA as president. In 1999, TIME Magazine named him Dealer of the Year, which showed how dedicated he was to new ideas and making customers happy. He kept getting important awards over the years, like the AGC’s Skill, Integrity, and Responsibility Award.
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The US Senate gave Tom a lot of praise for his outstanding efforts and unwavering commitment to his community. This shows how much of an impact his service had. In 2012, he was inducted into the Junior Achievement of Northern Nevada Business Leaders Hall of Fame.
To honor his many accomplishments, he was given a Certificate of Commendation. In 2013, Sparks Sertoma gave him the Certificate of Senatorial Recognition for his Service to Mankind Award. At the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Southern California and Nevada Dinner of Champions in 2014, the Dolan Family was given a Certificate of Commendation for their work in the community.
The good things Tom did for others were just as amazing. His kindness was first shown when he helped start CARE Chest in 1990, a non-profit that helps people in need get medical supplies. He was named MDA Man of the Year in 1991 for all the good things he did for others.
To show how much he cared about helping others, the Northern Nevada MS Society gave him the Hope Award in 2014. Associated General Contractors of America gave him the People’s Choice Award in 2015, and the American Heart and Stroke Association Heart Ball gave him the Heart of Gold Award in 2019.
In 2019, Catholic Charities gave Tom the Plates to Ease Poverty Humanitarian Award for his work to fight poverty. In 2020, the Board of Regents made him a Distinguished Nevadan in honor of his lifetime of service and hard work. He most recently received the Knighthood of St. Gregory the Great from Pope Francis. This was the culmination of a life committed to both work and community.
Tom was on the boards of the Nevada Franchised Dealers Association, the National Auto Dealers Association, the Northern Nevada Toyota Dealers, and the Nevada Automotive Network Safety Insurance Group, among others. He also generously gave a lot of time and money to many charitable boards, such as the ones for the Reno Rodeo Foundation, the Nevada Western Heritage Center Alliance, the Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada, and the Northern Nevada MDA.
Many people in Reno saw Tom as an important member of the community because of his influence that went beyond boardrooms and showrooms. His motto, “Get in and join the family,” summed up the special lifestyle he created at the Dolan Auto Group.
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Because he cared about family and society, he treated every customer and worker like they were part of the family. Donating to the community was one of Tom’s most important beliefs. He did this by building and maintaining community partnerships and supporting children’s education.
Tom led his kids Ryan and Brady in building Dolan Auto Group into more than just an auto repair shop. It turned into a family business that cares about the community. The Dolan Class Project gives money to schools and classrooms in Northern Nevada that deserve it every year as a charitable project. This helps to improve the next generation.
Tom’s toughness was a big part of his journey. He promised to help others after having a lung transplant and double bypass surgery in 2016. Inspired by his amazing journey of service and commitment, the Thomas S. Dolan Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center at South Renown was built in 2020 as a lasting tribute to his unmatched legacy of care and compassion.
A lung support group he started and the St. Peter’s Canisius Catholic Church in Sun Valley, Nevada, he was the driving force behind its construction. Tom wasn’t just a big name in the car industry; he was also a true humanitarian and a great example of what one person can do when they have a strong desire to make the world a better place.
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Tom will be remembered by the people he helped, the town he lived in, and the many good causes he supported. Among his loving family members are Pam, the mother of his children; Ryan (Melissa), Danielle, and Brady (Katie); Brooke, Olivia, Cash, Knox, Milo, and Peyton, his six cherished grandchildren; his brothers Neal and Mike; Sandi McKee, his dear friend and executive assistant; and many other friends, coworkers, and people in the Reno community.
There will be a showing at Saint Rose of Lima on Monday, September 23 from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by a prayer rosary service at 5:30 p.m. The funeral will be held at Saint Rose of Lima on Tuesday, September 24 at 11 a.m., and there will be a reception at the Reno Ballroom afterward.
Do not send flowers. Instead, please give money to Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada or Sierra Nevada Donor Awareness.
“Do the same thing, the same way, every day to the best of your ability and you’ll never lose” was Tom’s favorite business quote. People will be inspired by his kindness, hard work, and sense of community.
