A native of Dumas, Arkansas, and a widower after 49 years of marriage to Edna Faye, a wonderful wife. The parent of one child, Derrick L. Thomas a Veteran, who served in the United States Marine Corp and in the US Army during, "Operation Enduring Freedom." Derrick gave us six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Graduate of A.L Reed High School (Dumas) with Honors and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from A.M.&N. College, now (UAPB) Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Completed the Arkansas Governmental Manager program and became an Arkansas Certified Public Manager (CPM).
Positions worked:
• United Dollar Store - Manager in Camden, AR
• Arkansas Department of Social & Rehabilitation Services - Social Service Worker I, in Desha County, investigating neglect and abuse complaints of children and adults, also supervised Foster Children in the Foster Care Program
• Arkansas Department of Human Services (ADHS) - Initiated the Desha County Office of Child Support Enforcement as Investigator I, established paternity of children and secured Court Ordered payments for the Custodial Parent
• Arkansas Human Development Corporation - Regional Director for seven counties in Southeast Arkansas, working with businesses and industries utilizing: On-the-Job, work experience and other training programs to secure jobs for migrant and seasonal farmworkers
• Arkansas Department of Human Services (ADHS)- County Administrator I, in Desha County, hiring employees and supervision of employees, who determined eligibility of applicants for the Medicaid, Food Stamp and other service programs, from 1986 until retiring in 2014
• Elected President of the County Administrators Association in ADHS, for the 75 counties in Arkansas, for a two-year term
Served with the following organizations and boards:
• City of Dumas Zoning & Planning Commission
• UAM College of Technology - Business Development advisory board
• Daughters of Charity Services of Arkansas (DCSA) governance board
• Delta Access Program under the DCSA umbrella
• Dumas Adult Education WAGE program
• Desha County Single Parent Scholarship
• Desha County Cooperative Extension
• Salvation Army board
• Kellogg Foundation developing micro-enterprises with grant funding
• Energy Corporation low-income energy initiative (SWEEP) program
At Tyree Temple AME Church, served in the various positions of Steward, Trustee, Choir Director, Laymen Chair and Chair of the Official Board. The Dumas City Council will significantly benefit from my years of experiences, allowing us to become a community that other cities will want to be like.
VOTE FOR ME TO SERVE YOU IN WARD 2, POSITION 2, ON THE DUMAS CITY COUNCIL
