Vincent Johns Thomas, 93, retired businessman and former Mayor of Norfolk from 1976 to 1984, died at Harbor's Edge on November 7, 2015. Born in Norfolk on September 20, 1922, he was the son of the late Minnie Allison Thomas and Vincent Graves Thomas of Norfolk.
Mr. Thomas attended Norfolk public schools and graduated with honors from Maury High School in 1939, serving three years as class president.
He entered Virginia Military Institute in 1939, graduating with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1943. Distinguished at graduation, he was awarded the John H. French Medal for Pure Mathematics.
During and after his cadetship, he was active in the affairs of his VMI class and the VMI Alumni Association, serving as president from 1969-1971. He was awarded the VMI Foundation's Distinguished Service Award in 1976. He served as a member of the VMI Board of Visitors from 1978-1986 and as its president from 1980-1983.
An all-around athlete, Thomas lettered in tennis and basketball at Maury and VMI, was Middle Atlantic States Junior (18) Champion in tennis in 1939, was a forward on VMI's 1943 State Championship basketball team, and won the VMI Individual Intramural Trophy in both 1942 and 1943. An active tennis player all of his life, Thomas specialized in doubles with a number of what he described as ""good, young partners"" and participated in many local and regional tournaments with ""modest"" success. He was one of the founders of the Virginia Tennis Association.
After graduating from VMI in the middle of WWII, Thomas served three years as a First Lieutenant in the U. S. Army Signal Corps as a radar specialist after attending advanced electronics school at Harvard University and radar school at M.I.T. His duties involved the introduction of new and modified radar equipment to troops in the field in the Pacific Theater. He spent six months in the islands of the Central Pacific Base Command and was awarded a Battle Star and the WWII Victory Medal.
After his discharge from the Army in 1946, he joined his father at Johns Brothers, Inc., coal dealers and export coal agents. During his fifty years with this Norfolk coal company established in 1892, the business completely recycled itself into the fuel oil, heating and air conditioning, and electronic security businesses. Thomas retired as Chairman of the Board in 1996 when the company was sold.
Mr. Thomas' civic activities were numerous. In 1960 he was appointed to the Norfolk School Board, serving until 1972 and as Chairman from 1964-1972. In 1969 he was named by the Virginia Education Association as the state's Outstanding School Board Member and in 1972 was honored by the Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association with its eighth annual Liberty Bell Award.
He was active in the Virginia School Boards Association, serving on its Board as well as on the Board of the National School Boards Association where he acted as Chairman of the Council of Big City Boards of Education. In 1972 he was appointed to the Virginia State Board of Education and served for four years, two as President. During this tenure, he chaired the Governor's Commission for the Education of the Handicapped.
Thomas and then-Senator Hunter B. Andrews worked on the early development of WHRO in 1961, with Thomas as the first vice-chair and Andrews the first chairman of the Board. In 2003, the two were honored with the first WHRO Pioneer Awards.
In 1976 Thomas was elected to the Norfolk City Council and served as Mayor of the city from 1976 to 1984. He worked to develop the downtown waterfront during his tenure.
Following the example of his friend and predecessor Mayor Roy B. Martin, Jr., Mayor Thomas continued his involvement in Norfolk civic, cultural, and political affairs after leaving office. In his later years, he served as President of the Greater Norfolk Corporation, was member and President of the Virginia International Terminal, Chairman of the Future of Hampton Roads, Inc., and a member of the Boards of the Planning Council, the Dolphin Scholarship Foundation, the Hampton Roads Naval Historical Foundation, Virginia Wesleyan College, The Face International Corporation, and The Tidewater Scholarship Foundation (ACCESS).
His spare time was spent with his family. He is survived by his devoted wife of 68 years, Elizabeth Carroll Thomas of Martinsville; daughter Allison Thomas Kunze (Dale) of Buffalo, NY; son Vincent Graves Thomas II (Paige Howren) of Norfolk; two brothers, William Allison Thomas (Barbara) of Norfolk and Heth Tyler Thomas (Elizabeth) of Roanoke; sister Susan T. Duerson of Lynchburg; seven loving grandchildren: Stephanie Kunze Johnson (Andrew), Virginia Carroll Thomas, Todd Richard Kunze, Mary Blair Thomas, Vincent Graves Thomas III, Carolyn Howren Thomas and Cabell Barker Thomas; and a number of nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the wonderful nurses and caregivers at Harbor's Edge for taking such good care of him during his long illness.
The family will receive friends at a visitation from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2015 at the Norfolk Chapel of H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2015 in the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd with The Reverend James W. Medley officiating. A reception will follow at the church. Burial will be private with military honors in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the V.M.I. Foundation (P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450), or The Vincent Thomas Fund of The Hampton Roads Community Foundation (hamptonroadscf.org), or WHRO (5200 Hampton Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23508). Online condolences may be offered to the family through www.hdoliver.com.
Published in The Virginian Pilot on Nov. 9, 2015
Mr. Thomas attended Norfolk public schools and graduated with honors from Maury High School in 1939, serving three years as class president.
He entered Virginia Military Institute in 1939, graduating with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1943. Distinguished at graduation, he was awarded the John H. French Medal for Pure Mathematics.
During and after his cadetship, he was active in the affairs of his VMI class and the VMI Alumni Association, serving as president from 1969-1971. He was awarded the VMI Foundation's Distinguished Service Award in 1976. He served as a member of the VMI Board of Visitors from 1978-1986 and as its president from 1980-1983.
An all-around athlete, Thomas lettered in tennis and basketball at Maury and VMI, was Middle Atlantic States Junior (18) Champion in tennis in 1939, was a forward on VMI's 1943 State Championship basketball team, and won the VMI Individual Intramural Trophy in both 1942 and 1943. An active tennis player all of his life, Thomas specialized in doubles with a number of what he described as ""good, young partners"" and participated in many local and regional tournaments with ""modest"" success. He was one of the founders of the Virginia Tennis Association.
After graduating from VMI in the middle of WWII, Thomas served three years as a First Lieutenant in the U. S. Army Signal Corps as a radar specialist after attending advanced electronics school at Harvard University and radar school at M.I.T. His duties involved the introduction of new and modified radar equipment to troops in the field in the Pacific Theater. He spent six months in the islands of the Central Pacific Base Command and was awarded a Battle Star and the WWII Victory Medal.
After his discharge from the Army in 1946, he joined his father at Johns Brothers, Inc., coal dealers and export coal agents. During his fifty years with this Norfolk coal company established in 1892, the business completely recycled itself into the fuel oil, heating and air conditioning, and electronic security businesses. Thomas retired as Chairman of the Board in 1996 when the company was sold.
Mr. Thomas' civic activities were numerous. In 1960 he was appointed to the Norfolk School Board, serving until 1972 and as Chairman from 1964-1972. In 1969 he was named by the Virginia Education Association as the state's Outstanding School Board Member and in 1972 was honored by the Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association with its eighth annual Liberty Bell Award.
He was active in the Virginia School Boards Association, serving on its Board as well as on the Board of the National School Boards Association where he acted as Chairman of the Council of Big City Boards of Education. In 1972 he was appointed to the Virginia State Board of Education and served for four years, two as President. During this tenure, he chaired the Governor's Commission for the Education of the Handicapped.
Thomas and then-Senator Hunter B. Andrews worked on the early development of WHRO in 1961, with Thomas as the first vice-chair and Andrews the first chairman of the Board. In 2003, the two were honored with the first WHRO Pioneer Awards.
In 1976 Thomas was elected to the Norfolk City Council and served as Mayor of the city from 1976 to 1984. He worked to develop the downtown waterfront during his tenure.
Following the example of his friend and predecessor Mayor Roy B. Martin, Jr., Mayor Thomas continued his involvement in Norfolk civic, cultural, and political affairs after leaving office. In his later years, he served as President of the Greater Norfolk Corporation, was member and President of the Virginia International Terminal, Chairman of the Future of Hampton Roads, Inc., and a member of the Boards of the Planning Council, the Dolphin Scholarship Foundation, the Hampton Roads Naval Historical Foundation, Virginia Wesleyan College, The Face International Corporation, and The Tidewater Scholarship Foundation (ACCESS).
His spare time was spent with his family. He is survived by his devoted wife of 68 years, Elizabeth Carroll Thomas of Martinsville; daughter Allison Thomas Kunze (Dale) of Buffalo, NY; son Vincent Graves Thomas II (Paige Howren) of Norfolk; two brothers, William Allison Thomas (Barbara) of Norfolk and Heth Tyler Thomas (Elizabeth) of Roanoke; sister Susan T. Duerson of Lynchburg; seven loving grandchildren: Stephanie Kunze Johnson (Andrew), Virginia Carroll Thomas, Todd Richard Kunze, Mary Blair Thomas, Vincent Graves Thomas III, Carolyn Howren Thomas and Cabell Barker Thomas; and a number of nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the wonderful nurses and caregivers at Harbor's Edge for taking such good care of him during his long illness.
The family will receive friends at a visitation from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2015 at the Norfolk Chapel of H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2015 in the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd with The Reverend James W. Medley officiating. A reception will follow at the church. Burial will be private with military honors in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the V.M.I. Foundation (P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450), or The Vincent Thomas Fund of The Hampton Roads Community Foundation (hamptonroadscf.org), or WHRO (5200 Hampton Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23508). Online condolences may be offered to the family through www.hdoliver.com.
Published in The Virginian Pilot on Nov. 9, 2015
Vincent Johns Thomas, 93, retired businessman and former Mayor of Norfolk from 1976 to 1984, died at Harbor's Edge on November 7, 2015. Born in Norfolk on September 20, 1922, he was the son of the late Minnie Allison Thomas and Vincent Graves Thomas of Norfolk.
Mr. Thomas attended Norfolk public schools and graduated with honors from Maury High School in 1939, serving three years as class president.
He entered Virginia Military Institute in 1939, graduating with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1943. Distinguished at graduation, he was awarded the John H. French Medal for Pure Mathematics.
During and after his cadetship, he was active in the affairs of his VMI class and the VMI Alumni Association, serving as president from 1969-1971. He was awarded the VMI Foundation's Distinguished Service Award in 1976. He served as a member of the VMI Board of Visitors from 1978-1986 and as its president from 1980-1983.
An all-around athlete, Thomas lettered in tennis and basketball at Maury and VMI, was Middle Atlantic States Junior (18) Champion in tennis in 1939, was a forward on VMI's 1943 State Championship basketball team, and won the VMI Individual Intramural Trophy in both 1942 and 1943. An active tennis player all of his life, Thomas specialized in doubles with a number of what he described as ""good, young partners"" and participated in many local and regional tournaments with ""modest"" success. He was one of the founders of the Virginia Tennis Association.
After graduating from VMI in the middle of WWII, Thomas served three years as a First Lieutenant in the U. S. Army Signal Corps as a radar specialist after attending advanced electronics school at Harvard University and radar school at M.I.T. His duties involved the introduction of new and modified radar equipment to troops in the field in the Pacific Theater. He spent six months in the islands of the Central Pacific Base Command and was awarded a Battle Star and the WWII Victory Medal.
After his discharge from the Army in 1946, he joined his father at Johns Brothers, Inc., coal dealers and export coal agents. During his fifty years with this Norfolk coal company established in 1892, the business completely recycled itself into the fuel oil, heating and air conditioning, and electronic security businesses. Thomas retired as Chairman of the Board in 1996 when the company was sold.
Mr. Thomas' civic activities were numerous. In 1960 he was appointed to the Norfolk School Board, serving until 1972 and as Chairman from 1964-1972. In 1969 he was named by the Virginia Education Association as the state's Outstanding School Board Member and in 1972 was honored by the Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association with its eighth annual Liberty Bell Award.
He was active in the Virginia School Boards Association, serving on its Board as well as on the Board of the National School Boards Association where he acted as Chairman of the Council of Big City Boards of Education. In 1972 he was appointed to the Virginia State Board of Education and served for four years, two as President. During this tenure, he chaired the Governor's Commission for the Education of the Handicapped.
Thomas and then-Senator Hunter B. Andrews worked on the early development of WHRO in 1961, with Thomas as the first vice-chair and Andrews the first chairman of the Board. In 2003, the two were honored with the first WHRO Pioneer Awards.
In 1976 Thomas was elected to the Norfolk City Council and served as Mayor of the city from 1976 to 1984. He worked to develop the downtown waterfront during his tenure.
Following the example of his friend and predecessor Mayor Roy B. Martin, Jr., Mayor Thomas continued his involvement in Norfolk civic, cultural, and political affairs after leaving office. In his later years, he served as President of the Greater Norfolk Corporation, was member and President of the Virginia International Terminal, Chairman of the Future of Hampton Roads, Inc., and a member of the Boards of the Planning Council, the Dolphin Scholarship Foundation, the Hampton Roads Naval Historical Foundation, Virginia Wesleyan College, The Face International Corporation, and The Tidewater Scholarship Foundation (ACCESS).
His spare time was spent with his family. He is survived by his devoted wife of 68 years, Elizabeth Carroll Thomas of Martinsville; daughter Allison Thomas Kunze (Dale) of Buffalo, NY; son Vincent Graves Thomas II (Paige Howren) of Norfolk; two brothers, William Allison Thomas (Barbara) of Norfolk and Heth Tyler Thomas (Elizabeth) of Roanoke; sister Susan T. Duerson of Lynchburg; seven loving grandchildren: Stephanie Kunze Johnson (Andrew), Virginia Carroll Thomas, Todd Richard Kunze, Mary Blair Thomas, Vincent Graves Thomas III, Carolyn Howren Thomas and Cabell Barker Thomas; and a number of nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the wonderful nurses and caregivers at Harbor's Edge for taking such good care of him during his long illness.
The family will receive friends at a visitation from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2015 at the Norfolk Chapel of H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2015 in the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd with The Reverend James W. Medley officiating. A reception will follow at the church. Burial will be private with military honors in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the V.M.I. Foundation (P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450), or The Vincent Thomas Fund of The Hampton Roads Community Foundation (hamptonroadscf.org), or WHRO (5200 Hampton Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23508). Online condolences may be offered to the family through www.hdoliver.com.
Published in The Virginian Pilot on Nov. 9, 2015
Mr. Thomas attended Norfolk public schools and graduated with honors from Maury High School in 1939, serving three years as class president.
He entered Virginia Military Institute in 1939, graduating with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1943. Distinguished at graduation, he was awarded the John H. French Medal for Pure Mathematics.
During and after his cadetship, he was active in the affairs of his VMI class and the VMI Alumni Association, serving as president from 1969-1971. He was awarded the VMI Foundation's Distinguished Service Award in 1976. He served as a member of the VMI Board of Visitors from 1978-1986 and as its president from 1980-1983.
An all-around athlete, Thomas lettered in tennis and basketball at Maury and VMI, was Middle Atlantic States Junior (18) Champion in tennis in 1939, was a forward on VMI's 1943 State Championship basketball team, and won the VMI Individual Intramural Trophy in both 1942 and 1943. An active tennis player all of his life, Thomas specialized in doubles with a number of what he described as ""good, young partners"" and participated in many local and regional tournaments with ""modest"" success. He was one of the founders of the Virginia Tennis Association.
After graduating from VMI in the middle of WWII, Thomas served three years as a First Lieutenant in the U. S. Army Signal Corps as a radar specialist after attending advanced electronics school at Harvard University and radar school at M.I.T. His duties involved the introduction of new and modified radar equipment to troops in the field in the Pacific Theater. He spent six months in the islands of the Central Pacific Base Command and was awarded a Battle Star and the WWII Victory Medal.
After his discharge from the Army in 1946, he joined his father at Johns Brothers, Inc., coal dealers and export coal agents. During his fifty years with this Norfolk coal company established in 1892, the business completely recycled itself into the fuel oil, heating and air conditioning, and electronic security businesses. Thomas retired as Chairman of the Board in 1996 when the company was sold.
Mr. Thomas' civic activities were numerous. In 1960 he was appointed to the Norfolk School Board, serving until 1972 and as Chairman from 1964-1972. In 1969 he was named by the Virginia Education Association as the state's Outstanding School Board Member and in 1972 was honored by the Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association with its eighth annual Liberty Bell Award.
He was active in the Virginia School Boards Association, serving on its Board as well as on the Board of the National School Boards Association where he acted as Chairman of the Council of Big City Boards of Education. In 1972 he was appointed to the Virginia State Board of Education and served for four years, two as President. During this tenure, he chaired the Governor's Commission for the Education of the Handicapped.
Thomas and then-Senator Hunter B. Andrews worked on the early development of WHRO in 1961, with Thomas as the first vice-chair and Andrews the first chairman of the Board. In 2003, the two were honored with the first WHRO Pioneer Awards.
In 1976 Thomas was elected to the Norfolk City Council and served as Mayor of the city from 1976 to 1984. He worked to develop the downtown waterfront during his tenure.
Following the example of his friend and predecessor Mayor Roy B. Martin, Jr., Mayor Thomas continued his involvement in Norfolk civic, cultural, and political affairs after leaving office. In his later years, he served as President of the Greater Norfolk Corporation, was member and President of the Virginia International Terminal, Chairman of the Future of Hampton Roads, Inc., and a member of the Boards of the Planning Council, the Dolphin Scholarship Foundation, the Hampton Roads Naval Historical Foundation, Virginia Wesleyan College, The Face International Corporation, and The Tidewater Scholarship Foundation (ACCESS).
His spare time was spent with his family. He is survived by his devoted wife of 68 years, Elizabeth Carroll Thomas of Martinsville; daughter Allison Thomas Kunze (Dale) of Buffalo, NY; son Vincent Graves Thomas II (Paige Howren) of Norfolk; two brothers, William Allison Thomas (Barbara) of Norfolk and Heth Tyler Thomas (Elizabeth) of Roanoke; sister Susan T. Duerson of Lynchburg; seven loving grandchildren: Stephanie Kunze Johnson (Andrew), Virginia Carroll Thomas, Todd Richard Kunze, Mary Blair Thomas, Vincent Graves Thomas III, Carolyn Howren Thomas and Cabell Barker Thomas; and a number of nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the wonderful nurses and caregivers at Harbor's Edge for taking such good care of him during his long illness.
The family will receive friends at a visitation from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2015 at the Norfolk Chapel of H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2015 in the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd with The Reverend James W. Medley officiating. A reception will follow at the church. Burial will be private with military honors in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the V.M.I. Foundation (P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450), or The Vincent Thomas Fund of The Hampton Roads Community Foundation (hamptonroadscf.org), or WHRO (5200 Hampton Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23508). Online condolences may be offered to the family through www.hdoliver.com.
Published in The Virginian Pilot on Nov. 9, 2015
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