Title
Hugh Rowe Thomas, 1934 -1967
Subject
Insurance agents
Politicians
Description
Hugh Thomas is a name that may come to the minds of many motorists as they cross the Black Warrior River from Northport to Tuscaloosa. After all, the bridge they use is named for the late businessman, civic servant, and legislator.
Hugh Rowe Thomas was the son of the late Frank Thomas, long-time head football coach at the University of Alabama. Thomas grew up in Tuscaloosa, graduating from Tuscaloosa High School, where he played guard on the Black Bear football team.
After graduation, he went to Georgic Tech on an athletic scholarship, but suffered a knee injury. After one year, he transferred to the University of Alabama where he received his bachelor’s degree in economics in 1956.
Thomas went into the insurance business, head of his own agency. Thomas was active in civic affairs from the time of his graduation and headed such drives as the Cancer Crusade and March of Dimes. He served as president for several civic organizations before deciding in 1966 to seek a seat in the Legislature.
With one opponent, he polled the highest vote of any candidate in Tuscaloosa during the spring primary. Even before the general election, where he was unopposed, he went to Montgomery to get some experience. Through an arrangement worked out by Rep. A.K. Callahan, Thomas went to the state capitol as a house clerk under John Pemberton, head clerk to work during a special session of the legislature.
His career as a freshman lawmaker was well underway, but short-lived when Thomas was killed in an automobile accident on a rain-slick highway in Maplesville on his way to Montgomery for the week’s legislative session on April 25, 1967. Thomas was 33.
Hundreds of Tuscaloosans, state officials and Gov. Lurleen Wallace stood in silence to pay their last respects to the first-term legislator at his graveside in Tuscaloosa Memorial Park.
Thomas was laid to rest near the grave of a close friend, the late Ryan deGraffenried. It was after working in two gubernatorial campaigns with deGraffenried that Thomas decided to become a candidate for political office.
Hugh Rowe Thomas was the son of the late Frank Thomas, long-time head football coach at the University of Alabama. Thomas grew up in Tuscaloosa, graduating from Tuscaloosa High School, where he played guard on the Black Bear football team.
After graduation, he went to Georgic Tech on an athletic scholarship, but suffered a knee injury. After one year, he transferred to the University of Alabama where he received his bachelor’s degree in economics in 1956.
Thomas went into the insurance business, head of his own agency. Thomas was active in civic affairs from the time of his graduation and headed such drives as the Cancer Crusade and March of Dimes. He served as president for several civic organizations before deciding in 1966 to seek a seat in the Legislature.
With one opponent, he polled the highest vote of any candidate in Tuscaloosa during the spring primary. Even before the general election, where he was unopposed, he went to Montgomery to get some experience. Through an arrangement worked out by Rep. A.K. Callahan, Thomas went to the state capitol as a house clerk under John Pemberton, head clerk to work during a special session of the legislature.
His career as a freshman lawmaker was well underway, but short-lived when Thomas was killed in an automobile accident on a rain-slick highway in Maplesville on his way to Montgomery for the week’s legislative session on April 25, 1967. Thomas was 33.
Hundreds of Tuscaloosans, state officials and Gov. Lurleen Wallace stood in silence to pay their last respects to the first-term legislator at his graveside in Tuscaloosa Memorial Park.
Thomas was laid to rest near the grave of a close friend, the late Ryan deGraffenried. It was after working in two gubernatorial campaigns with deGraffenried that Thomas decided to become a candidate for political office.
Source
Tuscaloosa News Archive
Publisher
The Tuscaloosa News
Date
March 24, 1964
Contributor
Betty Slowe (Description)
Type
Photograph
Identifier
1219
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Original Format
Photograph