THOMAS, Eliot H. W. (1909-1975)

THOMAS, MCGEE, WARREN, CLARKE

Posted By: Elaine Harrington (email)
Date: 10/21/2006 at 19:22:19

OPINION-TRIBUNE
DATED MAY 7, 1975:

Eliot H. W. Thomas, 65, a former Mills County attorney whose legal career has spanned nearly three decades, died Saturday at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs after a heart attack.

He had retired only last year from active practice as a member of the Thomas, McGee & Thomas law firm in Glenwood.

Born May 5, 1909 in Randolph, Mr. Thomas was the son of David and Lola Thomas. He attended local public schools and graduated in 1926 from Randolph High School.

He was graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree from Doane College in Crete, Neb., where he was editor of the school yearbook and belonged to the debating team and to Iota Delta Chi fraternity.

In 1936, he received his juris doctor degree with distinction from the University of Iowa.

After he was admitted the Iowa bar, he began a practice in Oakland. He later moved to Glenwood and entered the Gilliland and Thomas law firm.

Mr. Thomas had served as both deputy Pottawattamie County attorney and as Mills County attorney.

In 1955, he was admitted before the U. S. Supreme Court. He also was admitted to practice before the U. S. District Court and the Iowa Supreme Court.

He had belonged to the American, the Iowa, and the Mills County Bar Associations.

Before entering law, he spent 1931 teaching school in Steele City, Neb. After his graduation form Doane, he returned to serve as principal and coach there.

His military service began when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U. S. Army Reserves after a year of training at Kemper Military Academy.

During World War II, he entered the armed services. He retired as a major in 1945, but continued in the Army Reserves as an instructor until 1960, when he retired as a lieutenant colonel.

He was a past commander of the Harvey T. Rimel Post of the American Legion in Glenwood.

His other organizations were the Masons, Knights of Pythias, and the Glenwood Rotary Club.

He also had served as a director of both the Mills County Savings and Loan Association and the Mills County State Bank.

Aug. 26, 1939, he married Emerson native, Mrs. Dorothea Warren.

Mr. Thomas’ survivors include his widow; two sons, David and James, both of Glenwood; a stepson, Rupert Warren, Annapolis, Md.; one sister, Mrs. Lee (Murial) Clarke, Sun City, Ariz.; and four grandchildren.

Services were Tuesday at Rayor, Lett & Kent Funeral Home in Glenwood. The Rev. Clyde W. Harmon officiated.

Music was provided by Mrs. Dale Smith and organist Mrs. Dean Dusenberry.

Honorary bearers were Dick DeLashmutt, Bert Colwell, Leighton McCrary, Paul Cheyney, Edwin Johnson, and Charles N. “Bud” Plumer.

Edward L. Laughlin, Jack Patrick, Charles Radford, Merrill Sargent, Luther Gammon, and Harold Wilkins were casket bearers.

After military graveside rites by the American Legion and the National Guard, Mr. Thomas was buried in Glenwood Cemetery.