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Thomas was born in tiny Marion in Union Parish north of [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], a son of B. B. Thomas and the former of Susan S. George of  Perry County, [[Alabama]]. Thomas was educated at the former Concord Institute in the community of Shiloh in Union Parish. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from [[Baptist]]-affiliated Samford University, then known as Howard College in Marion, [[Alabama]], but since located in [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]], Alabama. Thomas also obtained a Master of Accounts degree, a 14-week course, from the defunct Eastman Business College in Poughkeepsie, [[New York]]. Thereafter for two years, he kept the books in his father's mercantile business in Farmerville in Union Parish. In 1889, Thomas procured his law degree from the [[University of Virginia]] at Charlottesville, [[Virginia]].<ref name=lahist>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-t/|title=Thomas, Lee Emmett|publisher=Louisiana Historical Association: ''A Directory of Louisiana Biography'' (lahistory.org)|accessdate=October 11, 2019}}</ref><ref name=tbio>{{cite web|url=http://files.usgwarchives.org/la/caddo/bios/thomasle.txt|title=Lee Emmett Thomas|publisher=files.usgwarchives.org|accessdate=December 30, 2010; no longer on-line}}</ref>

Thomas was born in tiny Marion in Union Parish north of [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], a son of B. B. Thomas and the former of Susan S. George of  Perry County, [[Alabama]]. Thomas was educated at the former Concord Institute in the community of Shiloh in Union Parish. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from [[Baptist]]-affiliated Samford University, then known as Howard College in Marion, [[Alabama]], but since located in [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]], Alabama. Thomas also obtained a Master of Accounts degree, a 14-week course, from the defunct Eastman Business College in Poughkeepsie, [[New York]]. Thereafter for two years, he kept the books in his father's mercantile business in Farmerville in Union Parish. In 1889, Thomas procured his law degree from the [[University of Virginia]] at Charlottesville, [[Virginia]].<ref name=lahist>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-t/|title=Thomas, Lee Emmett|publisher=Louisiana Historical Association: ''A Directory of Louisiana Biography'' (lahistory.org)|accessdate=October 11, 2019}}</ref><ref name=tbio>{{cite web|url=http://files.usgwarchives.org/la/caddo/bios/thomasle.txt|title=Lee Emmett Thomas|publisher=files.usgwarchives.org|accessdate=December 30, 2010; no longer on-line}}</ref>

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 his law practice. He was a member of the First [[Southern Baptist|Baptist]] Church of Shreveport.<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 sketch in ''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography''<ref name=lahist/> and [[Maude Hearn O'Pry]]'s ''The Chronicles of Shreveport and Caddo Parish'' does not indicate if the couple had children. In 1896, the Thomases came to Shreveport, where he continued his law practice. 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 nation.<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/>​

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 nation.<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/>​