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 by	Ander Crenshaw
Succeeded by	James A. Scott
Member of the Florida Senate from the 3rd district
In office 1992–2000
Preceded by	Vincent Michael Bruner
Succeeded by	Al Lawson
Member of the Florida Senate from the 2nd district
In office 1982–1992
Preceded by	Thomas J. Tobiassen
Succeeded by	Betty Holzendorf
Member of the Florida Senate from the 4th district
In office 1974–1982
Preceded by	Mallory Horne
Succeeded by	Karen Thurman
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 10th district
In office 1972–1974
Preceded by	R. D. Woodward Jr.
Succeeded by	James Harold Thompson
Personal details
Born	November 23, 1933 Quincy, Florida
Died	June 21, 2000 (aged 66) Quincy, Florida
Cause of death	Cancer
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Mary Ann Jolley
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Florida (BS)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Battles/wars	Korean 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

External links