Caldwell Services Held; Family Seeks Remembrances of Auctioneer

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Funeral services for longtime Keeneland auctioneer Tom Caldwell were held at Shepherd of the Valley on Tuesday, with burial following at Memory Gardens in Medford, Ore. Among those in attendance were Keeneland's president, Nick Nicholson, and its director of sales, Rogers Beasley. Cris Caldwell, one of four children of Tom and Mary Caldwell, was asked by his mother to read passages from the hundreds of letters his father had received after word got out last summer of his battle with pancreatic cancer, which claimed Caldwell on Feb. 23.

"That was the hardest job of all," Caldwell said. "The number of calls and letters he's received from people he's known, from buyers and sellers that he's worked with over the years, was incredible. It's really what kept him alive."

The family has asked that any memorial contributions be made to the St. Mary's School Community Foundation, 816 Black Oak Drive, Medford, Ore. 97504. In addition, Cris Caldwell said the family hopes to compile a memorial of remembrances and anecdotes of the family patriarch. He asked that anyone wishing to contact the family e-mail them at twobidthree@yahoo.com.

Caldwell was a third-generation auctioneer who first worked a Keeneland sale in 1957. Upon the death of George Swinebroad in 1975, he was named Keeneland's director of auctions. He didn't miss a Keeneland sale until July 2000. Sons Cris and Scot Caldwell also serve as Keeneland auctioneers.

Cris Caldwell said fellow auctioneer Ryan Mahan and a number of ringmen who worked with his father flew to Oregon to attend the services. "Two of them were traveling to work a sale (Tuesday) in Arkansas," he said, "but when they heard the news they changed their plans and flew west."

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