Thomas was born in Butler, PA where he graduated from high school and went on to graduate from Muskingum University. During the Korean war he was a special agent in the Counter Intelligence Corps working for the U.S. Senate in Europe. After studies at Harvard Graduate School of Business he joined Merrill Lynch and later opened offices in Clearwater for Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley from which he retired after 29 years. He went on to receive his Masters at Trinity Theological Seminary and did his PhD studies at Princeton Theological Seminary and Vanderbilt Divinity School receiving his international degree from University of Liverpool. Thomas was ordained in the Presbyterian church and became a chaplain at Morton Plant Hospital and also served churches in Nashville, Tampa and Clearwater. He was married to Katherine Kennedy for 69 years and has daughters Johanna (Mark) Scheimann of Tampa and Elizabeth (Elvin) Carrero of Austin, TX. There are 4 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. His memberships included Rotary, Paul Harris Fellowship, Masonic Lodge, 32nd degree Mason, Pittsburgh Shrine Temple and was a charter member of the Morton Plant Foundation.