Craig L. Thomas
Craig L. Thomas | |
---|---|
Natrona County | |
In office January 8, 1985 – May 2, 1989 | |
Preceded by | Joe Stewart |
Succeeded by | Bruce Hinchey |
Personal details | |
Born | Craig Lyle Thomas February 17, 1933 Cody, Wyoming, U.S. |
Died | June 4, 2007 Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. | (aged 74)
Resting place | Riverside Cemetery Cody, Wyoming |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Leona M. Francis (divorced), and Susan Roberts Thomas |
Children | 4 |
Alma mater | University of Wyoming |
Occupation | Rancher |
Military service | |
Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
Years of service | 1955–1959 |
Rank | Captain |
Craig Lyle Thomas (February 17, 1933 – June 4, 2007) was an American politician who served as
In 1989,
Family
Thomas was married to Leona M. Francis on February 22, 1955 in Uinta, Wyoming. The couple had three sons and one daughter, as well as nine grandchildren. They later divorced. Thomas later married the former Susan Roberts, a public school teacher for special-needs students in
Biography
Thomas graduated from the
In addition to his work with the Farm Bureau, he was general manager of the Wyoming
As chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee, Thomas authored legislation to provide funding and management reforms to protect America's
Illness and death
Thomas entered the hospital shortly before the balloting occurred in November 2006 and was initially treated for pneumonia. Two days after the 2006 election, Thomas' diagnosis of leukemia was announced.[8] He immediately underwent treatment in the form of
Thomas' services were held in the Methodist Church in Casper on June 9, 2007. The two Senate leaders, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), headed a delegation of some twenty members of Congress who came to pay respects to the deceased senator. Thomas' burial was in Riverside Cemetery in Cody on June 10.
Under Wyoming law, Governor Freudenthal was required to appoint a new senator from a list of three submitted by the Wyoming Republican Party's central committee because the seat was vacated by a Republican.[11] The GOP met on June 19, 2007, in Casper to select three candidates from thirty applicants to send to the governor. Tom Sansonetti, former state Treasurer Cynthia Lummis, and State Senator John Barrasso were nominated. On June 22, 2007, Governor Dave Freudenthal appointed Barrasso as Thomas's successor in the U.S. Senate.
Thomas has been honored posthumously by having the Visitor Center in Grand Teton National Park named for him. The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, in Moose, Wyoming, was dedicated on August 11, 2007, with many dignitaries attending, including Vice President Dick Cheney.
See also
References
- ^ Kevin Merida and Kenneth J. Cooper (September 25, 1994). A Matter of Degrees. The Washington Post
- ^ Wyoming Blue Book (PDF). Vol. 4. 1991. p. 191. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Craig L. Thomas Official Biography Archived 2007-06-08 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Salute to the Parks Awards: Past Awardees". National Parks Conservation Association. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
- ^ Becker, Elizabeth (15 June 2005). "Central American Trade Pact Passes First Congressional Test". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
- ^ a b "Wyoming Sen. Craig Thomas Dies at 74". FOX News. 2007-06-05. Archived from the original on 2007-06-07.
- ^ Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., dead at 74 Archived 2013-02-09 at archive.today
- ^ Billings, Erin P. Sen. Thomas in 'Serious Condition,' Struggling With Infection Roll Call, June 4, 2007. Retrieved June 4, 2007.
- ^ Johnson, Kirk (2007-06-05). "Craig Thomas, Senator From Wyoming, Dies at 74". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
External links
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Craig Lyle Thomas Papers at the American Heritage Center
- WyomingNews.com Archived 2012-04-19 at the Wayback Machine
- CasperStartTribune.net, Friends and associates remember Craig Thomas
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Craig L. Thomas at Find a Grave