Dr. Thomas began his career on the Prairie View A&M faculty in February 1949 as a professor and later served as Director of the Technology Division, Dean of the College of Industrial Education and Technology and then appointed President of the College. Early in his administration, with the approval of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, through his visionary leadership he established a Centennial Council and engaged some 100 professionals from academia, business, government and clergy to chart the course for the university with a 1970-1980 long range Development Plan to guide the university into first class recognition.
Over a period of 16 months, meetings were conducted at strategic geographical areas throughout the State of Texas. These meetings included community leaders, alumni, business leaders, grass roots, citizens, students, etc. The outcome of the council work was an exhaustive long-range plan, a blue print for success and progress, that still impacts the University today. Incidentally, part of that plan was the incorporation of the City of Prairie View in 1969, an outgrowth of the Community Chess, the forerunner for citizens involvement.
As an outgrowth of this plan and its recommendations, the Texas State Legislature changed the name of the institution to Prairie View A&M University and its status as an independent unit of The Texas A&M University System was reconfirmed, effective August 27, 1973. The term "A&M" was also confirmed as a symbol for the system reaffirming the commitment to agricultural and mechanical sciences as provided for in the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890.
The plan also led to a major campus renovation and construction program which included the purchase of the nine-story Hermann building in the Texas Medical Center, which was renovated for the Prairie View A&M University College of Nursing. His political prowess manifested itself through his relationship and knowledge of working with the legislature with increased political capital for support of Prairie View A&M University and gaining its rightful part of the Permanent University Fund, enjoyed more today by his successors. Part of his new vision was the establishment of a Law and Medical Schools and several Doctoral degrees at Prairie View A&M University under the Office of Civil Rights agreement with the Federal Government by the State of Texas in the Target 2000 Plan for removing 'dejure segregation' in higher education. The challenge was to establish a Law school unlike any other school that would focus on scientific law, the first of its kind in the world. While he did not get a law or medical school for the university, his legacy lives on. In fact his quest for the medical school was furthered by the late Representative Ruth McClendon of San Antonio. That idea too failed because the protracted move of the university and system administration. The long range plan also led to tremendous changes in curricula, student services, facilities, degrees, the Cooperative Extension Program and the Agricultural Research Center, including the Kiki De La Garza International Dairy Goat Research Center, the first of its kind in the nation.
Dr. Thomas believed that the primary purpose of Prairie View A&M University was the creation of human capital, with ethical and moral values, cultural literacy, professional and technical knowledge, skills and leadership characteristics to enable self-sufficiency, and to preserve and strengthen our democracy and our free enterprise system. He also believed that in order to achieve the plan he had to engage the whole community at all levels. His pragmatic leadership was vested in the philosophy of pluralism for the full participation of Prairie View A&M University in every facet of the society but at the same time maintain the cultural identity of the people we serve.
This philosophy led to the establisment of numerous undergraduate and graduate degrees during his administration. The university’s enrollment also increased more that 30%. The number of graduates increased from 605 in 1966 to 1135 in 1982. He was especially proud of the establishment of the Navy ROTC Program, the first and only Navy ROTC unit at a historically Black university with support from George H. Walker Bush, then Congressman for the 7thTexas District. The first class of officers, dubbed the New Golden 13, received commissions in the United States Navy and Marine Corp in 1970. During his administration, the Prairie View Naval ROTC commissioned more African-American Naval Officers than any other university, other than the Naval Academy. The number of Army ROTC officers commissioned also rose from 25 per year to almost 100 per year. It was from this background in November 1973, that Dr. Thomas developed the slogan: “Prairie View Produces Productive People.”
From 1966 to 1982, twenty-one new honor societies were established in academic areas throughout the University. In 1969, Dr. Thomas commissioned a group and established chapters of the social fraternities and sororities of the National Pan Hellenic Council, including Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma and Iota Phi Theta fraternities; and Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Rho sororities along with the installation of the undergraduate Pan Hellenic Council. His quest for external involvement of the students in the free enterprise system, in 1969 the university purchased a franchise in the Miss Texas/Miss America Scholarship Pageant, the only historically Black university to elevate the traditional campus queen. In 1970 Margaret Sherrod became the first Black contestant in the Texas pageant.
Other innovative college and pre-college programs were established, including the Junior Fellow/Senior Fellow Residence Hall Programs, Student Honor Roll Banquet, the University Without Walls, the Weekend College for adult students, Experiment-in-Living, Engineering Concepts Institute, Minority Introductions to Engineering (MITE), Premedical Concepts Institute, Operation Success, Operation Vanguard, Project Pride, Century II Book Review, and the Pride of Prairie View Club to build self-esteem and empower young women and young men. While the programs in engineering, education and nursing rose to great prominence, Dr. Thomas raised the awareness of the arts too with much support for the drama and music programs. The increase emphasis assisted the Charles Gilpin Players to rise to the occasion with an appearance at the Kennedy Center with its phenomenal production of "Don't Bother Me, They Can't Cope" directed by the prolific director, C. Lee Turner. The music programs, namely the University Chorale also received its accolades with the production of its first Album, directed by Dr. Robert A. Henry and participation in the Houston Grand Opera's staging of "Treemonisha" in Miller Outdoor Theater. This is the first American Black Opera and written by Scott Joplin. The opera went on to open on Broadway with PVAMU graduates - Cora Johnson and Dorceal Duckins. His personable approach to management led to the creation of the monthly faculty and staff recognition program and monthly birthday parties for the students.
When you reflect on Dr. Thomas' tenure, you can sum up his achievements as he termed it "Dynamic Changes for Success and Progress" of not just a historically Black College or University, but an institution of the first class.
Dr. Thomas’ altruism extended to the community through his services on many boards and programs including as a consultant to Dow Chemical Company, Litton Industries, and Westinghouse Management Service. He served as a member of the White House Conference on Children and Youth, the Governor’s Commission on Rural Development, and was active on many committees and councils of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. He was also a leader in the incorporation of the City of Prairie View in 1968-69. In the 1950’s Thomas worked in Liberia, West Africa and helped to restructure the Booker T. Washington Technical Institute at Kakata, Liberia, established in 1926 by the Phelps Stokes Fund. With support of the Agency for International Development, Thomas and team returned to Liberia in 1979 to reestablish the US’s relation with the country of Liberia. In 1990, he founded and directed the Carver Institute African American Think Thank, providing community development services to local organizations and helped to form the Liberia Cutting Group, Inc. in 2008.
He was a member of President George H.W. Bush’s delegation to observe the election in Namibia, South Africa. In 1973, on the recommendation of Dr. Doris L. Johnson, Bahamas Senate President, he established the Prairie View-Bahamas Friendship Scholarship Program to commemorate the independence of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, which resulted in some 200 students receiving degrees from Prairie View A&M University. Dr. Johnson, author of the Quiet Revolution, was the May 1973 commencement speaker.
In 1974, Dr. Thomas was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (Houston Branch). He served as Chairman of the Board from 1977-1979.
To commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the University, Dr. Thomas established the Centennial Council and organized the university’s first Capital Fund Campaign culminating with the Centennial Endowment Banquet in 1978, in Houston, Texas. Dr. Thomas is a recipient of many honors including the Epsilon Pi Tau Laureate Citation for Administrative Leadership; Distinguished Alumni Award from Kansas State College; Holt Fellow, Yale University; Distinguished Alumni Award, Ohio State University; Outstanding Educational Service Medal by The Republic of Liberia; the Eagle Scout Award, the Boy Scout Silver Beaver Award from the Texas San Jacinto Council of the Boy Scouts of America Houston; the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, the second highest civilian given by the U.S. Army; and the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, the highest civilian award given by the U.S. Department of the Army. In March 1979, he was featured in the Texas Monthly Article – “Hey Kid Shape Up.” He was a member of numerous organizations to include Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi (Nu Boule).
From 1982-1983, Dr. Thomas served as Executive Vice-President for Development and in 1983, he became Director, Houston Nursing Facility. He retired from active service with the University in August 1992. The University established, and he maintained the Office of President-Emeritus in the Prairie View A&M University, College of Nursing Center in the Texas Medical Center. By action of the Board of Regents, The Texas A&M University System, Dr. Thomas was given the permanent title of President-Emeritus in April 1983. In December 2002, in recognition of his services to Prairie View A&M University, the Board of Regents named the University’s Administration Building the Alvin I. Thomas Building.
Born on September 7, 1925 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Thomas received his early education in elementary school at Holy Ghost Catholic School and Corpus Christi Catholic School. He later attended New Orleans’ public middle and high school at Tommy LaFon and graduated from McDonald No. 35 Public School.
Thomas began his college studies at Xavier University of New Orleans for two years prior to being drafted into the U.S. Army to serve his country in World War II. During war he served in the United States, France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, the Philippines and Korea. After his honorable discharge from the Army he enrolled at Kansas State College, where he received the Bachelors and Master’s Degree. While at Kansas State College, he was elected to Honor Society in Mathematics, Honor Society in Physics, and Epsilon Pi Tau Honor Society in Technology. He later enrolled at Pennsylvania State University, and then Ohio State University where he received his Ph.D. degree 1957. As a youth, Dr. Thomas was an active member of Boy Scout Troop 134 in New Orleans, LA. He continued his interest and financial support of the Boy Scouts Program until his death on September 25, 2013 in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Thomas is survived by his loving and devoted wife Clarissa Gamble Thomas; Iris Butler Thomas, the mother of his four children: - sons, Kenneth C. Thomas and Michael D. Thomas (Lark McCarthy); and daughters, Janet M. Thomas and Julie E. Thomas; his sister Joyce Thomas Mouton, brother Henry James Thomas (Sadie), and brother Aldon A. Thomas (Barbara). Other relatives include a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. His surviving extended family includes, Mary Bush Johnson, Rosie L. Matlock and Frederick V. Roberts Esquire; and his church family at St. Mary of the Purification Church, Rosedale at Ennis. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence P. Thomas and Lillian Gilbert Thomas, a brother, Talmadge J. Thomas, and a sister Sr. Mary Francine (N. E. Grace M. Thomas).
Friends may continue his legacy of service and academic achievement with contributions to the Dr. Alvin I. Thomas Memorial Endowment at Prairie View A&M University, Office of Development, P.O. Box: 519 M.S. 1200, Prairie View, TX 77446 . For information call (936) 261-1550 or email: development@pvamu.edu. Prairie View Today prairieviewtoday@yahoo.com
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