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From 1889 to 1896, he practiced law in Farmerville,<ref name=tbio/> where he married the former Florence Smith. Thomas's biographical sketches in ''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography''<ref name=lahist/> and ''The Chronicles of Shreveport'' does not indicate if the couple had children. In 1896, the Thomases came to Shreveport, where he continued in the practice of law. He was a member of the First [[Southern Baptist|Baptist]] Church of Shreveport.<ref name=tbio/> Thomas also served as president of the Shreveport [[Chamber of Commerce]] and was affiliated with several fraternal orders, including the Masonic lodge, the Shriners, and the Order of the Eastern Star, Knights Templar, and the Knights of Pythias. Thomas worked to establish the Shriner's Hospital for Children in Shreveport, the first of its kind in the [[United States]].<ref name=lahist/><ref>''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'' uses information for its biographical sketch on Mayor Thomas from Lilla McLure and J. Ed Howe, ''History of Shreveport and Shreveport Builders'' (1937) and Maude Hearn O'Pry, ''Chronicles of Shreveport'' (1928).</ref> Thomas was also the chairman of the board of the [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] orphanage, the Masonic Home for Children, established c. 1928.<ref name=tbio/>​

From 1889 to 1896, he practiced law in Farmerville,<ref name=tbio/> where he married the former Florence Smith. Thomas's biographical sketches in ''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography''<ref name=lahist/> and ''The Chronicles of Shreveport'' does not indicate if the couple had children. In 1896, the Thomases came to Shreveport, where he continued in the practice of law. He was a member of the First [[Southern Baptist|Baptist]] Church of Shreveport.<ref name=tbio/> Thomas also served as president of the Shreveport [[Chamber of Commerce]] and was affiliated with several fraternal orders, including the Masonic lodge, the Shriners, and the Order of the Eastern Star, Knights Templar, and the Knights of Pythias. Thomas worked to establish the Shriner's Hospital for Children in Shreveport, the first of its kind in the [[United States]].<ref name=lahist/><ref>''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'' uses information for its biographical sketch on Mayor Thomas from Lilla McLure and J. Ed Howe, ''History of Shreveport and Shreveport Builders'' (1937) and Maude Hearn O'Pry, ''Chronicles of Shreveport'' (1928).</ref> Thomas was also the chairman of the board of the [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] orphanage, the Masonic Home for Children, established c. 1928.<ref name=tbio/>​

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==Public career==​

==Public career==

In 1903, Thomas was appointed state banking commissioner by [[Governor]] William Wright Heard, who like Thomas was a Union Parish native. Thomas served as banking commissioner until 1906, when he formed Continental Bank and Trust Company, of which he served as president until 1917.<ref name=lahist/> ​

In 1903, Thomas was appointed state banking commissioner by [[Governor]] William Wright Heard, who like Thomas was a Union Parish native. Thomas served as banking commissioner until 1906, when he formed Continental Bank and Trust Company, of which he served as president until 1917.<ref name=lahist/> ​

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