[Email draft for the eulogy for John Thomas] Page: 1 of 2
This text is part of the collection entitled: John Thomas Papers and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries Special Collections.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Subj: Draft (2) on John
Date: 98-06-01 11:31:53 EDT
From: Wayboum
To: Marbo@connect.net, Cure HIV, Possumbaby, TGSeelig
To: LoryMaster, KEstes@fhu.org, Vhshapiro, Rev West
BCC: Wayboum, Wayboum@windowcorp.com
DRAFT - DRAFT - DRAFT -- Please read carefully and make any final
changes/edits/recommendations before I sent it on to Louis for handling. Wm.
(Need Photo)
JOHN D. THOMAS
John David Thomas, 50, died peacefully among family and friends on (date). Mr. Thomas was former execute director of
the Foundation for Human Understanding, and its related agencies, the AIDS Resource Center, the Gay & Lesbian
Community Center, and the Nelson-Tebedo Community Clinic.
He also helped found numerous organizations in Dallas, including the Black-Tie Dinner Committee, the Dallas Legal
Hospice, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and the Turtle Creek Chorale. He has served on numerous boards and
commissions, including the Dallas County HIV Services Planning Council and Consortium for Ryan White and Texas
Department of Health funding, the National Lesbian and Gay Health Association, the Women's Chorus of Dallas, Dallas Gay &
Lesbian Alliance, the Human Right Campaign and the TCC AIDS Fund.
An accomplishment singer, Mr. Thomas was an active member of the Turtle Creek Chorale, and most recently served as
co-chair of the Cathedral of Hope's fundraising campaign to build a new Cathedral, whose membership is inclusive of all
people, gay, lesbian or heterosexual.
Mr. Thomas' lengthy accomplishments include being the first openly gay Republican to address the Republican National
Committee, and serving as a plaintiff in the court case to overturn section 21.06 of the Texas Criminal Code. His previous
professional service includes vice president for human resources for the Dallas Times Herald, as well as director of personnel
for the Miami Herald. His work in human resources began at the Philadelphia Inquirer.
He also maintained a high profile as one of Dallas' most visible gay and AIDS activists. Mr. Thomas had been arrested
three times for his personal protests of inadequate AIDS medical treatment and lack of public policy and research. Mr.
Thomas also attended all three previous marches on Washington for lesbian and gay rights. He was also the first gay man in
Dallas County appointed to serve on a grand jury.
Born in Bucyrus, Ohio, Mr. Thomas grew up in Centerville, Iowa, and Quincy, Illinois. He received his BA in psychology
from the University of Illinois and his MBA in general management from NYIT.
Mr. Thomas is survived by Gary Lanham, husband; his father, the Rev. James Thomas and his step-mother, Mary, of
Zanesville, Ohio; two brothers and their wives, Bob and Martha Thomas of Dallas, James and Jane Thomas of Detroit, and one
sister, Nancy Crawford of Dallas; his former sister-in-law Cel and her husband Michael Lombard of Agoura, CA; numerous
nieces and nephews, Deni, Missy, Rob, Blair, Staci, Stephen, Desiree, and Shannon. Close friends include William
Wayboum of Washington DC, Vivian Shapiro of New York, and Lory Masters, Tim Seelig and Louis Kelly, all of Dallas.
Mr. Thomas was preceded in death by his mother, Madelaine, his great Aunt, Rose, and literally hundreds he knew who
died as a result of AIDS.
A memorial service and rally for the integrity, dignity and rights of gay people and those living with AIDS and HIV and
honoring Mr. Thomas will be held on ??? at ??? at the Cathedral of Hope, 5910 Cedar Springs Road, with the Rev. Carol West
officiating, and with members of the Turtle Creek Chorale and the Women's Chorus of Dallas as honored guests.
In lieu of flowers, Mr. Thomas' family has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Cathedral of Hope Building
Fund, P.O. Box 35466, Dallas, Texas, 75235.Monday June 1, 1998 America Online: Guest Page: 1
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This text can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Text.
Waybourn, William. [Email draft for the eulogy for John Thomas], text, June 1, 1998; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1954813/m1/1/?q=%221998-06%22: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.