Tom Lemm was born in Syracuse, New York in February 1944 during WWII, the third of five children, two older brothers and two younger sisters. The family moved to North El Monte, CA in 1959 and his high school years were spent in North El Monte. He attended Pasadena City College and Mt. San Antonio Junior College, later transferring to Cal State University Dominquez Hills where he obtained his MSA in 1980. He worked for So. California Edison for 34 years, retiring in 1997 and then working as a consultant in the Real Estate Acquisition profession for local governments and public agencies. He continues to work part-time in his 47-year career field because he enjoys the challenge of project work.

Tom joined Huntington Beach Elks Lodge #1959 on November 16, 1995 and became the Americanism Chairman for Exalted Ruler Boomer Steeman in April of 1996. He served in that capacity for three years and became the Fifth Year Trustee in early 1998. He progressed through the Trustee chairs and became Chairman of the Board in 2001-2002. In 2002-2003 he was elected Esteemed Leading Knight, again serving ER Boomer Steeman in his second term. Tom was elected to be Exalted Ruler of Huntington Beach Lodge effective April 1, 2003. Tom has also served as the Lodge ENF Chairman for 4 years and as the Lodge Treasurer for three years.

Tom and Valarie are pleased with the success of the Annual Thanksgiving Dinner held at their lodge each year, and the Puerto Rican Dinner presented each October during ENF Month to promote the National Foundation. He was also successful in obtaining a booth for the lodge at the Orange International Street Fair and continues to support that community awareness activity.

He was awarded the honor of being Elk of the Year at Huntington Beach Lodge in 2005-2006 and is an Honorary Founder of the Elks National Foundation.

During the years following his term as Exalted Ruler, Tom served the Orange Coast District as Scholarship Chairman for two years, Membership Chairman for two years, Manpower Room co-chair for the 2008 Anaheim Convention, and District Activities Chairman for one year.

Tom was Esquire to Past District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler Dave Bakke in the year 2007-2008. Tom and Valarie reside in Huntington Beach and have been married for 7 years. Tom has two grown children, Rick and Lori, and Valarie has a grown daughter, Ashley (who is an Elk), and together they have three grandchildren.

On May 15, 2009 at the California-Hawaii Elks Association Convention in Ontario, Tom was installed as State Vice President for the Orange Coast District.