Richard H. Thomas was a popular educator who taught in Princess Anne for nearly four decades. His legion of alumni-admirers affectionately called him “Fess” — short for professor and a term of endearment students of that era used sparingly as a sign of respect.
“If anyone ever epitomized the term ‘gentleman,’ it would be he,” 1978 alum Horatio William Jones III said.
“He was one of the greatest men I have ever met in my life,” recalled Col. Ralph Hodge, USAF (retired), class of 1958.
Thomas always wore a tie and a white shirt to class, and addressed his students as “Mr.” or “Miss”.
“Perfect gentleman,” said Charles Laws, class of 1959. “Knew every student by name. Tipped his hat to all (the) female
students.”
During sporting events, however, Thomas’ formality was replaced by loud cheering.
“President (John T.) Williams and Mr. Thomas were always out-yelling one another!” said Jones, laughing.
During his 38-year tenure (1939-77), Thomas witnessed the institution’s name transition from Princess Anne College to Maryland State College and finally to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He was an industrial arts instructor and served as head of the department of Industrial and Mechanic Arts from 1966 until 1971.
Thomas earned his undergraduate degree from Cheyney (Pa.) State University and a Master of Arts degree from Pennsylvania State University. He continued his studies at Rutgers University in New Jersey, and at several technical schools. He was a member of the Phi Alpha chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, where he was past basilicus, and a member of several industrial arts and other professional organizations.
In addition to teaching, Thomas worked as the college’s athletics director (1946-48), and served as a member of the college’s athletics and homecoming committees.
“He was a real ‘booster’ for athletics,” Jones said. Well-known and highly respected as a recruiter, he is credited with bringing to campus student-athletes Sylvester Polk, Cal Martin, Albert Jones, Joe Raikes, Rob Merritt, Ted Adams, Ernest Ramsay, Billy Johnson and John McDaniels.
“In 1978, I visited with Mr. and Mrs. Thomas at their home,” Hodge said. “That day, Mr. Thomas happily reminded me about my long, game-winning home run against North Carolina A&T on May 7, 1955.”
Each fall, Thomas reveled in the ritual of (football) game preparations. He strategized with the coaches (“Rooster” Coffee, “Skip” McCain, Earl Banks, and “Nate” Taylor) and encouraged the football players.
As homecoming approached, everyone knew where to find him: ensconced in the “maelstrom” of float decorating, bonfires, prep rallies and coronations. For Thomas, homecoming was the quintessential moment, and the “Hawks” the quintessential team! He was elected to the university’s athletics hall of fame in 1973.
Gaston Finney & Sheridan Parks
Jones remembers how Thomas and professor Theodore “Box” Briggs skillfully repaired broken “Louisville Slugger” bats for the enjoyment of Black students who attended the old Somerset Junior-Senior High School – now Kiah Hall on the UMES campus. “There was nothing better for us than playing with those bats!” said Jones, known to many as Bill.
In “Polishing the Diamond,” a history of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore by William P. Hytche, Thomas is pictured gleefully smiling with faculty colleagues while performing a Rockettes-style kick line during a campus talent show. He was so well-regarded the university’s arts and technologies center is named in honor of Thomas and his colleague, Briggs.
Married to Claudia, who was often called an “honorary cheerleader” and staunch Hawk supporter, they had three children, Calvin, Diane and Grace. Grace remembers UMES fondly. “My dad loved working at UMES, and the campus was my playing field,” she said.
On May 15, 1977, the university awarded him the honorary title of “faculty emeritus” during commencement exercises.
His dedication to UMES lives on through a scholarship endowment fund he and Claudia established in 1992. The Richard H. Thomas Scholarship Fund is earmarked to help students in the technology department.
According to his published obituary, Thomas was 80 when he died April 8, 1995 at his home near campus in Princess Anne. His funeral was held at the Ella Fitzgerald Center for the Performing Arts on campus. He is interred at Springhill Memory Gardens near Hebron, Md.
