AMERICAN SYSTEMS, a leading provider of federal IT and engineering solutions, is remembering the legacy and vision of company founder H. Thomas "Tom" Curran following his passing on February 28, 2014.
Curran, a true entrepreneur, founded AMERICAN SYSTEMS (formerly American Communications Company) in 1975 with a focus on providing technicians to telecommunications firms. Today, the company is a broad-based provider of services and solutions to government customers in support of national priorities, with annual revenue of approximately $350 Million.
In 1976, Curran joined forces with Forrest (Woody) Ramsey, and the company's initial focus was expanded to include systems engineering for U.S. submarines, primarily the TRIDENT class. With this new work, they also decided to change the company's name to American Systems Corporation (ASC).
In 1990, Tom and Woody put in place the AMERICAN SYSTEMS Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and subsequently sold their remaining stock shares to the ESOP in October, 1997. AMERICAN SYSTEMS is now one of the largest majority-owned ESOP companies in the U.S. Curran stepped down as President and CEO but remained as Chairman of the Board until October, 2001. In his farewell memo to employees, Curran stated, "…my tour with ASC has been an exhilarating ride that seems to have just flashed by. I have had much more than my share of fun and realized an enormous sense of pride in all that we have accomplished over the years. It may seem platitudinous to talk about the wonderful people that form ASC's staff, but I have to, because you, and those before you, truly are."
AMERICAN SYSTEMS shares in the Curran family's grief and wishes to express deepest condolences to Curran's wife Sarah and the rest of the family. "Tom Curran will be remembered with great admiration and appreciation for all he did for the company and its employee-owners," noted current AMERICAN SYSTEMS President and CEO, Bill Hoover. "His commitment to our customers and shareholders remain vital to the fabric of our corporate culture today, close to 40 years since he founded the company."
Services will be held at Money & King Funeral Home, 171 Maple Avenue W, Vienna, VA 22180,http://www.moneyandking.com/ on Friday, March 7, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mark Catholic Church, 9970 Vale Road, Vienna, VA 22181, http://www.stmark.org/ on Saturday, March 8, at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be held at Flint Hill Cemetery.
