Pat Thomas (politician)

Pat Thomas (November 21, 1933 – June 21, 2000) was a North Florida politician and was President of the Florida Senate 1993-1994. He was also President Pro Tempore 1992-1993.

Pat Thomas
President of the Florida Senate
In office
1993–1994
Preceded byAnder Crenshaw
Succeeded byJames A. Scott
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 3rd district
In office
1992–2000
Preceded byVincent Michael Bruner
Succeeded byAl Lawson
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 2nd district
In office
1982–1992
Preceded byThomas J. Tobiassen
Succeeded byBetty Holzendorf
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 4th district
In office
1974–1982
Preceded byMallory Horne
Succeeded byKaren Thurman
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 10th district
In office
1972–1974
Preceded byR. D. Woodward Jr.
Succeeded byJames Harold Thompson
Personal details
Born(1933-11-23)November 23, 1933
Quincy, Florida
DiedJune 21, 2000(2000-06-21) (aged 66)
Quincy, Florida
Cause of deathCancer
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Mary Ann Jolley
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Florida (BS)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Battles/warsKorean War
Pallbearers carry the coffin of Pat Thomas

Political career

Thomas was the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Florida from 1966-70.[1] In October 1974, Thomas unseated the sitting representative for District 10 in the Florida House of Representatives, Jack Burke, in the Democratic primary.[2] He won the general election in November 1972. The following spring, he was one of a bipartisan group of representatives who voted not to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, which lost 64-54, making Florida the 13th state to oppose ratification of the amendment.[3] He served in the State House of Representatives from 1972-74.[4] In 1974 he ran for the State Senate. While he won the primary in early September, he did not receive a majority of the votes, forcing a runoff at the beginning of October.[5][6] He defeated Duby Ausley in the runoff primary on October 1, to become the Democratic nominee for the State Senate in District fourth district. Since there was no Republican running for the seat, he was guaranteed election in the November general election.[7]

Thomas served in the Florida Senate until his death in 2000.[8] Thomas finished his last legislative session in May 2000 and would have retired after the November elections that same year, due to term limits, however, he died from cancer in June.[9] He was the second longest serving member of the Florida legislature at that time.

The St. Petersburg Times called him a "courteous, gracious Southern gentleman who rarely expressed anger or partisanship in an arena that is often filled with both." The Times went on to quote Governor Jeb Bush called Thomas "a highly respected legislator" whose "good nature and passion for life and public service endeared him to so many." While House Speaker John Thrasher said of Thomas: "In an environment that can often be tense and partisan, he never forgot the overriding importance of friendship, regardless of party affiliation."[9]

Major legislative achievements

The Old Florida Capitol building was saved from the wrecking ball after Thomas sponsored a 1978 bill to save it. A Korean War veteran, Thomas also led the fight for a Korean War Memorial, which was completed in December 1999. In 1996, Thomas plotted with then Gov. Lawton Chiles and Senator Childers to save a law that helped the state file suit against tobacco companies on behalf of Medicaid patients. They hatched the plan in a Quincy restaurant housed in an old tobacco warehouse.

Personal

Outside of his public service, he was an Insurance Executive and Mortgage Broker. He loved to hunt, fish and go boating. Thomas graduated from Quincy High school, after which he also graduated from the University of Florida with a BSA in 1957. Thomas was a member of Future Farmers of America while in high school and Florida Blue Key, Alpha Gamma Rho President and Senior class President while at the University of Florida. He was married to Mary Ann Jolley of Naples, Florida and had two children. Thomas was a member and past president of BPOE and Rotary. During the Korean War, Thomas served in the U.S. Army.[9] He died of multiple myeloma.[10]

Highlights

One of Florida's Five Outstanding Young Men, 1967; National Junior Chamber of Commerce's nominee as Outstanding Young Man of America, 1967; DeMolay Legion of Honor; Allen Morris Awards: Most Outstanding First-Term Member of the Senate, 1976; Most Effective in Debate, 1981 and 1986; Most Effective in Committee, 1983 and 1986; Most Respected Senate Member 1990 runner-up.

References

  1. "State Democrats Name Eleven to Policy Group". Playground Daily News (Fort Walton Beach, Florida). January 13, 1970. p. 14. Retrieved March 7, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Bruce Smathers, 29, Wins State Senate Nomination". The Naples Daily News). October 4, 1972. p. 32. Retrieved March 7, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "House Finds Worm in ERA Apple". Panama City News-Herald. April 18, 1973. p. 15. Retrieved March 7, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20180113095046/http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/fefdl/florida/House19672001.html
  5. "Pat Thomas, Duby Ausley Face State Senate Runoff Contest". Panama City News-Herald. September 12, 1974. p. 24. Retrieved March 7, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Little Interest in Voting". Panama City News-Herald. September 28, 1974. p. 22. Retrieved March 7, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Path Thomas Beats Duby Ausley". Panama City News-Herald. October 2, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved March 7, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/20180113095045/http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/fefdl/florida/Senate18452001.html
  9. Morgan, Lucy (June 22, 2000). "Veteran Legislator Dies Of Cancer". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  10. "State Senator Pat Thomas". Florida Memory.
  • Florida Senate Handbook 1992-1994
Florida House of Representatives
Preceded by
R. D. Woodward Jr.
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 10th district

1972–1974
Succeeded by
James Harold Thompson
Florida Senate
Preceded by
Mallory Horne
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 4th district

1974–1982
Succeeded by
Karen Thurman
Preceded by
Thomas J. Tobiassen
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 2nd district

1982–1992
Succeeded by
Betty Holzendorf
Preceded by
Vincent Michael Bruner
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 3rd district

1992–2000
Succeeded by
Al Lawson
Political offices
Preceded by
Ander Crenshaw
President of the Florida Senate
1993–1994
Succeeded by
James A. Scott
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