Elmer Thomas

Elmer Thomas

John William Elmer Thomas (born September 8, 1876 in Greencastle , Indiana , †  September 19, 1965 in Lawton , Oklahoma ) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ) who represented the state of Oklahoma in both chambers of the US Congress .

Born on an Indiana farm, Thomas first attended public schools and later Central Normal College in Danville . There he graduated in 1897; three years later he graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle. He then studied law and was inducted into the Indiana Bar Association in 1897 and that of Oklahoma in 1900, after which he began to practice as a lawyer in Oklahoma City . In 1901 he moved to Lawton.

From 1907 to 1920 Thomas was a member of the Oklahoma Senate ; between 1910 and 1913 he was its pro tempore president. During that time, he became the founder of Medicine Park in Comanche County in 1908 . In 1920 he applied for a seat in the US House of Representatives for the first time , but was unsuccessful. Two years later he was victorious and was a member of the Chamber of Parliament after being re-elected between March 4, 1923 and March 3, 1927.

Immediately thereafter, Elmer Thomas moved to the Senate within Congress , where he remained until January 3, 1951, after being re-elected three times. In 1950 he wanted to run again, but was no longer nominated by his party. During his time in the Senate, Thomas was among other things chairman of the Agriculture Committee .

After retiring from politics, Thomas initially worked as a lawyer in Washington before returning to Lawton in 1957. He died there in September 1965, shortly after his 89th birthday. A lake northwest of Lawton is named Elmer Thomas Lake as a tribute to the longtime Senator .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Elmer Thomas Lake

Web links

Commons : Elmer Thomas  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Elmer Thomas in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• Elmer Thomas in the database of Find a Grave (English)