HONORING THE LIFE OF MR. BOBBY THOMAS

HONORING THE LIFE OF MR. BOBBY THOMAS

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 6 (Monday, January 13, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 6 (Monday, January 13, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E20] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LIFE OF MR. BOBBY THOMAS ______ HON. RICHARD McCORMICK of georgia in the house of representatives Monday, January 13, 2025 Mr. McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a true leader in the Forsyth County Community, Mr. Bobby Thomas. Mr. Thomas was born on November 3, 1946, and spent his youth in Coal Mountain, Georgia. Signs of future success were evident early on, as Mr. Thomas won ``Most Likely to Succeed'' during his senior year at Forsyth County High School. Upon graduation in 1964, Mr. Thomas went on to Georgia Institute of Technology, where he excelled, and earned his bachelor's degree in industrial engineering in 1969. During his time at Georgia Tech, Mr. Thomas met the love of his life, Brenda. They married three years later and enjoyed 57 years of wedded bliss together. Upon graduation, Mr. Thomas enlisted in the United States Navy and was commissioned as a supply officer, serving on a destroyer warship stationed out of Jacksonville, Florida and Glassboro, New Jersey. After returning home, he bought into the family lumber business, and by the mid-1980's he had turned the Thomas Lumber Company into the leading manufacturer of Western Red Cedar Products throughout the Southeast. The Thomas Lumber Company, founded in 1927, is the oldest family- owned business in Forsyth County. As an active member in his community, Mr. Thomas was a founding member of the Forsyth County Rotary and later President, a 30-year member and leader of the Development Authority of Forsyth County, and maybe most importantly, an active member of Oak Grove Baptist Church, serving as a clerk and Sunday School teacher. Sadly, on January 6, 2025, Mr. Thomas passed away. He is survived by his wife, Brenda, two children, and 7 grandchildren. My prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time. His impact on the lives of the people and community of Forsyth County will not soon be forgotten, and the entire community is mourning the loss of this great man. ____________________