Tom Orlando

Tom Orlando is a 1985 graduate of Admiral King High School. During his time at Admiral King, Tom distinguished himself as an exceptional athlete on the 1984 football team, which won the Buckeye Conference title and was later honored with induction into the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. As a two-way starter who rarely left the field, Tom earned All-Buckeye Conference honors for both offense and defense during his senior year.

A significant contributor to Tom's athletic success was the rigorous weightlifting program at AKHS, led by Hall of Fame coach Bill Provident. Tom and his teammates competed in various weightlifting events across Ohio, achieving numerous victories. In 1985, the AKHS weightlifting team set a record at the Lorain County Lift-a-Thon, an event aimed at raising funds for cancer research. Tom and four of his teammates established a record that remained unbroken until the event was discontinued.

Following graduation, Tom attended Baldwin-Wallace College on a football scholarship. He continued to play competitively until an injury brought his football career to a close. Tom began his professional journey at the Lorain County Domestic Relations Court in the late 1980s before joining Ford Motor Company's Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake. While at Ford, he chaired successful countywide political campaigns and served as a delegate of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2000 Community Action Program. Tom later ran for elective office within the UAW, serving as a trustee, district committeeman, benefit representative, and associate editor of the union's newspaper. His commitment to excellence earned him recognition as a Patriotic Employer by the National Guard & Reserve Force.

Although his role with the UAW was rewarding, Tom's passion for public service led him back to local government as a bailiff in the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas. Encouraged by numerous community supporters, particularly from organized labor, he pursued the elected position of Lorain County Clerk of Courts in 2015. Tom was appointed to this role and subsequently elected to four-year terms in 2016, 2020, and again in 2024.

Throughout his time in elected office, Tom has significantly improved operations with fiscal responsibility, innovation, and independence. He and his team have generated surplus funds from auto title and passport application fees, contributing millions of dollars to support other county government departments. His outstanding leadership has earned him recognition from peers across Ohio, leading to his appointment as District Chairperson of the Ohio Clerk of Courts Association.

A proud first-generation Italian American, Tom is affiliated with the Order of Italian Sons and Daughters of America as well as the Montenero Val Cocchiara Society of Lorain.

Tom and his wife Traci, also a graduate of AKHS class of 1985, have been married for 33 years. They reside in Avon and take pride in their three adult children: Vincenzo (29), Lauren (27), and David (25). Their youngest son has chosen a path in public service and currently serves as a police officer for the City of Avon.

Tom Orlando's Induction Speech