It's a career his father and uncle steered him toward back in high school, and one he’s been happily employed in for the past 50 years. Now Thomas Markus is bringing all of that experience and putting it to work in Royal Oak as the city’s newest city manager.

The city meeting executive summary on the official night of his hiring described Markus as, “a nationally recognized City Manager with more than four decades of municipal leadership experience serving complex, fullservice communities throughout the Midwest, including Birmingham, Michigan; Lawrence, Kansas; Iowa City, Iowa; Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; and Wheeling, Illinois. Over the course of his career, he has led organizations through periods of transition, operational restructuring, infrastructure modernization, strategic planning, fiscal stabilization, economic development, succession planning, and organizational culture improvements. His resume reflects longevity and success across a wide variety of governmental and operational environments.”

Markus brings that experience and has moved downtown with his wife Debbie – within walking distance of his city hall office – and has been on the job since May 20.

As a kid growing up in Minnesota, his first career choice was to be a farmer. Active in 4H, he raised a hog but his father, a former farmer and then a railroad engineer, and his uncle steered him away from the “tough business” of farming. During his sophomore year in high school, Tom decided to take their advice and change course. It was then he arrived at his current occupation.

“He said, ‘I keep running into these people called city managers. You should really consider looking at a career in city management,” Markus said.

He knew the daughter of the town’s city manager and he struck up a conversation to learn more. He decided to attend Mankato State University – now Minnesota State University – and pursued urban studies. He also put a business degree in his back pocket at the urging of his uncle.

His wife Debbie was a priceless treasure found in an urban finance class.

“It happened to be a graduate class and she was still an undergrad,” he said. “She didn’t know anything about it but it was being taught by a city manager, and I said, ‘Well, I’ll help her figure it out and get through.’ It developed into more than a casual relationship and we ended up getting married. She’s as much engaged in my world as I am. She’s so supportive, and if you have to gutcheck something with somebody, who better than your spouse?”

He understands that his long tenure in the city manager world is not the norm these days.

“It’s getting more challenging,” he said. “I find it very fulfilling. As a young person, you can get involved. You can be part of accomplishments, part of success, part of getting things done, part of building relationships in the community. And the big thing for me now at my stage is training young people.”

Markus’ foundation for training is based in servant leadership.

“I encourage them to understand being a servant leader,” he said. “We serve the public. Our position should be all about the service. It shouldn’t just be a job. Because if it’s just a job, you can go do that anywhere.”

Building the future of Royal Oak with experience garnered from a career across the Midwest, Royal Oak’s city manager, Thomas Markus.