Today, we take delight in remembering and recognizing the distinguished service and dynamic leadership of Dr. Alvin I. Thomas as president of Prairie View A&M University for more than fifteen years. In capturing the successes of Dr. Thomas’ tenure, many would have various points to make, however, we’ve attempted to capture the essence of his commitment to excellence, total engagement of the faculty, staff and students and the community at large. In the end, borrowing from Frank Sinatra’s “I did it my way,” we can say, that Dr. Alvin I. Thomas did it his way!
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, 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 development plan to guide the university into first class recognition. The plan won the approval of TAMUS Board of Regents.
Over a period of 16 months of study, meetings were conducted at strategic geographical areas throughout the State of Texas and other states. These meetings included community leaders, alumni, business leaders, grass roots, citizens, students, etc. Following months of exhaustive work, the Centennial Planning Council published “A Developmental Plan, 1970-1980 for Prairie View A&M University”, a blueprint for success that still impacts the University today. Strategically, the inherent plan projected the incorporation of the City of Prairie View in 1969, a developmental movement of the Community Chess, the forerunner for citizens involvement and Prairie View’s commitment to building, transforming and sustaining the communities that surround us.
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 of the land-grant institution as provided 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 world class Texas Medical Center, which was renovated for the Prairie View A&M University College of Nursing and the 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. 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 its rightful part of the Permanent University Fund. Part of his new vision for the university was to request for the establishment of a Law and Medical Schools and several Doctoral degrees at Prairie View A&M University under the Office of Civil Rights 1982-84 agreement with the Federal Government Department of Education by the State of Texas and Governor William Bill Clements in its 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 and technology law, which would have been 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 that one day it will be established. In fact his quest for the medical school was furthered some fifteen years later by the late Representative Ruth McClendon of San Antonio. That idea too, failed because the protracted move of the university leadership, the TAMUS administration and the legislature. The movement for the Permanent University Fund participation was mobolized through his saviness with the established Ministers' Conference, teacher organizations and other ardent supporters. While he was not in the position when the voters passed the Educational Amendment in 1984, he can still take credit for getting the ball rolling.
Dr. Thomas believed that the primary purpose of Prairie View A&M University was the development and enhancement 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 creation and offering of numerous undergraduate and graduate degrees offered by the University of Texas. 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, outside of the U. S. Naval Academy. The number of Army officers commissioned also rose from 25 per year to almost 100 per year. The core values and philosophy for success were the forerunners of his planned Operation Success Program, later implemented in the 1970’s. Additionally from this background and support of his administration, in November 1973 following homecoming, Dr. Thomas enhanced the reworked the them and commissioned the slogan: “Prairie View Produces Productive People,” a moniker that has been embedded in the fabric of the institution.
To enhance and recognize student achievements and participation in leadership activities and their social standings during the period 1966 to 1982, twenty-one new academic honor societies, including the Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society for all majors were established throughout the University. In 1969, Dr. Thomas commissioned a group of members of the National Pan Hellenic Council to secure and establishe chapters of the social fraternities and sororities at the university. By December 1970 all nine organizations were chartered at the university, which included 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 National Pan Hellenic Council. His quest for external involvement of the students in the free enterprise system led to the university’s purchase of a franchise in the Miss Texas/Miss America Scholarship Pageant in 1969, the only historically Black university to elevate the traditional campus queen and one of the few universities participating in the national pageant system. In July 1970, Margaret Penn (Sherrod) became the first Black contestant in the Texas pageant. Over the years through 1995, Miss PVAMU’s received several recognitions as finalist and non-finalists winners, with Dellenor Miles winning Fourth Runner-up in 1984 and the third Black contestant to make the top ten in the forty-seven year-old pageant.
During the late 60’s and early 70’s when America’s colleges and universities were experiencing students’ unrests, protests and sit-ins, Prairie View was not speared with its share of marches and student riot. Thomas’ move to quell the campus disturbance led to the campus shutdown and the dismissal of several students for both academic and rules violations and changes in student governance. This was a time for positive reflections and Thomas introduced several innovative college and pre-college programs, patterning successful programs at Yale University, considered the bedrock for student development. He established the Senior Fellow/Junior Fellow Residence Hall Programs staffed by professional managers and counselors and paraprofessionals, who provided management and leadership for the residences. He also implemented a required Nursing Health Concepts course to focus on holistic and healthy living of the students and teaching of Prairie View’s history and taught by the professionals. The program was later labeled the Operation Success Program. Other programs included the Student Honor Roll Banquet each semester, the University Without Walls and Weekend College for senor adult students, Experiment-in-Living, Engineering Concepts Institute, Minority Introductions to Engineering (MITE), Premedical Concepts Institute, Operation Vanguard, Project Pride, Century II Book Review and the Pride of Prairie View Club to build self-esteem and empower young women and men. His personable style of management and servant leadership led to the creation of the monthly faculty and staff recognition program and monthly birthday parties for the students.
While the programs in engineering, education, nursing and business rose to great prominence, Dr. Thomas raised the awareness of the arts too with much support for the drama and music programs. The increased emphasis helped 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, I Can't Cope" directed by the prolific director, Mr. C. Lee Turner, formerly of the famed M. C. Williams High School and teacher/coach of the Tony Award Winner Jennifer Holliday. 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 Alumni - Cora Johnson and Dorceal Duckens.
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 through the Prairie View Community Chess.
Dr. Thomas’ quest for Prairie View’s international relations began in the 1950’s with his consultancy in Liberia, West Africa, where he and a team from the college helped to restructure the Booker T. Washington Technical Institute at Kakata, Liberia, established by Phelps Stokes Fund in 1926. 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 and implementation of the College of Agriculture and Vertical Technology Transfer at Booker T. Thomas was a member of President George H.W. Bush’s 1981 delegation to observe the election in Namibia, South Africa. In 1973, on the recommendation of Dr. Doris L. Johnson, Bahamas Senate President and the May 15th commencement speaker, he established the Prairie View-Bahamas Friendship Scholarship Program to commemorate the independence of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas on July 10th. This program resulted in some 200 students attending and receiving degrees from Prairie View A&M University. Dr. Johnson was a friend and former colleague of Dr. Robert A. Henry, Head of the Music Department.
To commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the University, Dr. Thomas called on the established 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 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. In March 1979, he was featured in the Texas Monthly Article – “Hey Kid Shape Up,” which highlighted success stories of first generation students and their entry into the pluralistic society against the odds. He was a member of numerous organizations to include a charter of the Epsilon Tau Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (Nu Boule Houston).
From June 1982 to September 1983, Dr. Thomas served as Executive Vice-President for External Development and in 1983, he became Director, Houston Nursing Facility and oversaw the construction of the 12 stories College of Nursing building with 120K square feet of space for operation and the introdution of the Master's degree in Nursing. 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. In 2003 and by action of the Board of Regents, The Texas A&M University System, Dr. Thomas was honored with the formal naming of the Alvin I. Thomas Administration Building at the university.
Dr. Thomas was born on September 7, 1925 in New Orleans, Louisiana and attended elementary school at Holy Ghost Catholic School and Corpus Christi Catholic School. He attended New Orleans’ public middle and high school at Tommy LaFon and graduated from McDonald No. 35 Public School. He 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, 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 bachelor’s 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.
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,’ as designated in the Texas Constitution.
Dr. Thomas’ legacy is revered and cherished 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 and a host of alumni, staff and faculty. 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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