Tom Marx, area developer and business leader, dies at 74

QUINCY — Tom Marx, a self-made entrepreneur who ran multiple businesses and developed dozens of properties across Illinois, Missouri and Iowa, died Sunday.

He was 74.

Marx sold everything from furniture to Christmas trees to fireworks as he expanded his business portfolio. He owned a furniture store, Furniture Connection, at the location now occupied by Staples, one of the first of several national retailers Marx eventually brought to the area.

Marx’s thumbprint is all along Broadway, Quincy’s main thoroughfare. Retail centers, old and new, are part of the Marx Commercial catalog. Look at both northern corners of 30th and Broadway, the new Dunham Sports in the old Sears building and stretch it all the way out east to Prairie Crossing where former Quincy Mall staples such as Maurice’s, Spencer’s and Kirlin’s Gifts now call home.

And that’s not nearly all of them.

Marx worked with several local governments and development organizations to bring businesses to the area. One of the entities he worked with was the Great River Economic Development Foundation and he once was a GREDF board member.

“GREDF sends our condolences to the family of Tom Marx,” said GREDF President Kyle Moore. “The Tri-State area was blessed to have a businessman like Tom invest in our communities. In many instances, he saw opportunity when there was blight, he saw potential in properties that were long ignored, and he promoted our communities to a national audience. Through it all, he did it with compassion and kindness. Take a drive down any commercial center in Quincy, Jacksonville, Hannibal or Kirksville and you will see the impact Tom Marx had on us all.”

Marx turned small fireworks stands in Missouri into the Fireworks Superstore, a mammoth operation on U.S. 61 south of Hannibal that sells fireworks globally on a wholesale and retail basis.

Marx spent a great deal of social time at the restaurants owned by the McClean family and Rod McClean gave some heartfelt words on his friend’s passing.

“He did a lot for the community,” McClean said. “Developing, bringing businesses in town…He was a great community leader and friend. He will be missed.”

McClean was getting a little choked up and had to pause.

“I got my first Christmas tree from him. Now you have me all teary-eyed.”

Memorials can be made to GREDF.

A full obituary will be appearing later this week on Muddy River News.