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→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/>
In 1908, Thomas, an active [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives. Reelected in 1912, he served his second term in the House as the Speaker. In his second term, he served with David B. Samuel, Perry Keith, and Joseph E. Johnston, Jr., no relation to the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] general [[Joseph E. Johnston]]. One of his at-large successors in the House, [[John McWilliams Ford]], was also Thomas' predecessor as mayor. Ford also served from 1930 until his death in 1965 as the municipal finance commissioner, a position which no longer exists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.la.us/members/h1812-2012.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812–2012|publisher=legis.state.la.us|accessdate=December 29, 2010}}</ref>
In 1908, Thomas, an active [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives. Reelected in 1912, he served his second term in the House as the Speaker. In his second term, he served with David B. Samuel, Perry Keith, and Joseph E. Johnston, Jr., no relation to the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] general [[Joseph E. Johnston]]. One of his at-large successors in the House, [[John McWilliams Ford]], was also Thomas' predecessor as mayor. Ford also served from 1930 until his death in 1965 as the municipal finance commissioner, a position which no longer exists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|
title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (Caddo Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|date=May 21, 2019|accessdate=October 11, 2019}}</ref>
From 1916–1920, Thomas was the chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Central Committee, an influential body in a one-party state at the time. He also served on the [[Democratic National Committee]] through his role as the party's Louisiana national committeeman. Thomas was chairman of the Louisiana Tax Commission from 1917 to 1919 under Governor Ruffin G. Pleasant, of Shreveport and like Heard and Thomas a Union Parish native. Thomas was again the state banking commissioner from 1919 to 1922,<ref name=tbio/> under the Pleasant and successor John M. Parker administrations. In 1924, Thomas ran unsuccessfully for the [[United States Senate]], losing the Democratic nomination to [[incumbent]] Joseph Ransdell].<ref name=lahist/> Ransdell polled 104,312 votes (54.9 percent) to Thomas' 85,547 ballots (45.1 percent).<ref>State of Louisiana, Louisiana Secretary of State, U.S. Senate election returns, 1924.</ref> In 1930, Ransdell was unseated in the primary by Governor [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]], who did not immediately take his seat in the chamber.
From 1916 to 1920, Thomas was the chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Central Committee, an influential body in a one-party state at the time. He also served on the [[Democratic National Committee]] through his role as the party's Louisiana national committeeman. Thomas was chairman of the Louisiana Tax Commission from 1917 to 1919 under Governor Ruffin G. Pleasant, of Shreveport and like Heard and Thomas a Union Parish native. Thomas was again the state banking commissioner from 1919 to 1922,<ref name=tbio/> under the Pleasant and successor John M. Parker administrations. In 1924, Thomas ran unsuccessfully for the [[United States Senate]], losing the Democratic nomination to [[incumbent]] Joseph Ransdell of Lake Providence in East Carroll Parish.<ref name=lahist/> Ransdell polled 104,312 votes (54.9 percent) to Thomas' 85,547 ballots (45.1 percent).<ref>State of Louisiana, Louisiana Secretary of State, U.S. Senate election returns, 1924.</ref> In 1930, Ransdell was unseated in the primary by Governor [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]], who did not immediately take his seat in the chamber.
===Shreveport mayor===
===Shreveport mayor===