Gordon Thomas (politician)
Encyclopedia
Gordon L. Thomas was the mayor of East Lansing, Michigan
from 1961-71. He was a Democratic
candidate for delegate to a constitutional convention
to rewrite the Michigan Constitution
during 1961–1962 from Ingham County 2nd District.
His service as mayor
of East Lansing in the 1960s was amid college-town student civil rights
and anti-war protests. He was president of the Michigan Municipal League
and served as a member of the executive board of the National League of Cities
.
, Newfoundland merchant, and William Thomas
, member of the Newfoundland Parliament
. Young Thomas immigrated to the United States as a boy. He graduated from the Oxford, Michigan
High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Albion College
, a master’s degree from Michigan State University
(MSU) and a Ph.D.
from Northwestern University
. He married Phyllis Lenzner in 1941 and they had two children, David and Kathleen.
He was a congregationalist.
Dr. Thomas joined the MSU faculty after returning from U.S. Army service in World War II
and served as Communications Professor until he retired in 1983. In addition to teaching, Dr. Thomas served in other roles at MSU, including as Associate Dean for the College of Communications Arts and Sciences from 1970-73, and as Secretary for Academic Governance
from 1973-1983.
Dr. Thomas was elected to the East Lansing City Council
in 1959, and served as the 17th Mayor of East Lansing from 1961 to 1971, becoming the city's longest-serving mayor. He was preceded in office by Harold F. Pletz (1959-61) and succeeded by Wilbur B. Brookover (1971-75). He was also president of the Michigan Municipal League
in 1966-67 and served on the Executive Board of the National League of Cities
from 1968-1971. "Mayor Gordon L. Thomas of East Lansing, the new President of the Michigan Municipal League, is a well-known authority on parliamentary procedure
and a professor of speech, in addition to being active in League affairs."
- were common in East Lansing. The Detroit Free Press
reported in 1965 about one such event, which culminated in a sit-in at city council chambers: "About 100 sign-toting students from Michigan State University picketed East Lansing City Hall for the second straight day Tuesday, seeking 'more affirmative action' against alleged racial discrimination in off-campus housing ... police spent an hour carrying the limp-bodied youngsters to a rear parking lot ... Midway through Tuesday's demonstration, Mayor Gordon Thomas agreed to meet with student leaders Monday on the MSU campus to discuss the problem."
Time Magazine covered the 1971 East Lansing city election – and the effects of the 1971 26th Amendment
granting 18-year-olds the right to vote. “Relying on his traditionally heavy support from the off-campus community, Thomas, 56, counted on two or three active volunteers to run his campaign and never appealed to the student vote. Still, the consensus of local political sages was that his election was a sure thing,” Time reported. “They were wrong. Mayor Thomas, who admitted he was shocked by the results, was ousted and finished fourth behind Council Incumbent Wilbur Brookover who, near the end of the campaign, switched signals and began speaking and debating on campus.”
The East Lansing Towne Courier reported in 1995: “After a 10-year stint as mayor, Thomas said it was difficult to name his greatest achievement while in office. ‘I think it would have to be the passing of the open housing ordinance – we had no ordinance prohibiting discrimination in housing,’ Thomas said. He recalled the ordinance initially failed with a 2-3 vote, but then passed unanimously a year or two later. ‘No one said anything about it – we just passed it.’ Also during his term as mayor, many things were built in the city, such as the library, the city garage and the water treatment plant.”
In 1983, he received the Albion College Distinguished Alumni Award.
editorial included the following insight: "For years, the name Gordon Thomas stood for the steady, stable foundation of East Lansing. From 1961 to 1971, the former mayor guided the city through the turmoil of civil disruption, war protests and rights marches. In later years, he remained a trusted adviser, a connoisseur of the city's rich history. Thomas' death this week diminishes the city. He understood the dynamics of a vibrant college town and helped lay the groundwork for nurturing a diverse community ..."
His remains were interred at Elkland Township
Cemetery (also known as (Cass City Cemetery), near Cass City
, Tuscola County, Michigan
.
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
from 1961-71. He was a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate for delegate to a constitutional convention
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
to rewrite the Michigan Constitution
Michigan Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Michigan is the governing document of the U.S. state of Michigan. It describes the structure and function of the state's government....
during 1961–1962 from Ingham County 2nd District.
His service as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of East Lansing in the 1960s was amid college-town student civil rights
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
and anti-war protests. He was president of the Michigan Municipal League
Michigan Municipal League
The Michigan Municipal League is a nonprofit association of municipalities and municipal leaders in the State of Michigan. The group banded in 1899 under the motto “Cooperation solves any problem” to reflect the organizers’ combined purposes: exchange of information, shared learning, development...
and served as a member of the executive board of the National League of Cities
National League of Cities
The National League of Cities is an American advocacy organization representing 19,000 cities, towns, and villages, and encompassing 49 state municipal leagues....
.
Biography
Gordon Thomas was born in Orpington, England in 1914; his forebearers included William Bevil ThomasWilliam Bevil Thomas
William Bevil Thomas , was a prominent merchant, land developer and sea captain who is, with his descendants, notable in the history of that city and in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador province.Thomas was from a line of merchant mariners from Devon, England and was genealogically connected...
, Newfoundland merchant, and William Thomas
William Thomas (politician)
William Thomas was a merchant and politician. Thomas was elected to the House of Assembly representing the district of St...
, member of the Newfoundland Parliament
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is one of two components of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the other being the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly meets in the Confederation Building at St...
. Young Thomas immigrated to the United States as a boy. He graduated from the Oxford, Michigan
Oxford, Michigan
Oxford is a village in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,436 at the 2010 census. The village is located within Oxford Charter Township. The village occupies one square mile and is both politically and geographically a part of the township. The village calls itself...
High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Albion College
Albion College
Albion College is a private liberal arts college located in Albion, Michigan. Related to the United Methodist Church, it was founded in 1835 and was the first private college in Michigan to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. It has a student population of about 1500.The school's sports teams are...
, a master’s degree from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
(MSU) and a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. He married Phyllis Lenzner in 1941 and they had two children, David and Kathleen.
He was a congregationalist.
Dr. Thomas joined the MSU faculty after returning from U.S. Army service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and served as Communications Professor until he retired in 1983. In addition to teaching, Dr. Thomas served in other roles at MSU, including as Associate Dean for the College of Communications Arts and Sciences from 1970-73, and as Secretary for Academic Governance
Governance in higher education
Governance in higher education refers to the means by which higher educational institutions are formally organized and managed, though often there is a distinction between definitions of management and governance. Simply, university governance is the way in which universities are operated...
from 1973-1983.
Dr. Thomas was elected to the East Lansing City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
in 1959, and served as the 17th Mayor of East Lansing from 1961 to 1971, becoming the city's longest-serving mayor. He was preceded in office by Harold F. Pletz (1959-61) and succeeded by Wilbur B. Brookover (1971-75). He was also president of the Michigan Municipal League
Michigan Municipal League
The Michigan Municipal League is a nonprofit association of municipalities and municipal leaders in the State of Michigan. The group banded in 1899 under the motto “Cooperation solves any problem” to reflect the organizers’ combined purposes: exchange of information, shared learning, development...
in 1966-67 and served on the Executive Board of the National League of Cities
National League of Cities
The National League of Cities is an American advocacy organization representing 19,000 cities, towns, and villages, and encompassing 49 state municipal leagues....
from 1968-1971. "Mayor Gordon L. Thomas of East Lansing, the new President of the Michigan Municipal League, is a well-known authority on parliamentary procedure
Parliamentary procedure
Parliamentary procedure is the body of rules, ethics, and customs governing meetings and other operations of clubs, organizations, legislative bodies, and other deliberative assemblies...
and a professor of speech, in addition to being active in League affairs."
Role during civil-protest years
Student protests in the 1960s - from local concerns such as open housing to national policy on the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
- were common in East Lansing. The Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
reported in 1965 about one such event, which culminated in a sit-in at city council chambers: "About 100 sign-toting students from Michigan State University picketed East Lansing City Hall for the second straight day Tuesday, seeking 'more affirmative action' against alleged racial discrimination in off-campus housing ... police spent an hour carrying the limp-bodied youngsters to a rear parking lot ... Midway through Tuesday's demonstration, Mayor Gordon Thomas agreed to meet with student leaders Monday on the MSU campus to discuss the problem."
Time Magazine covered the 1971 East Lansing city election – and the effects of the 1971 26th Amendment
Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution limited the minimum voting age to no more than 18. It was adopted in response to student activism against the Vietnam War and to partially overrule the Supreme Court's decision in Oregon v. Mitchell...
granting 18-year-olds the right to vote. “Relying on his traditionally heavy support from the off-campus community, Thomas, 56, counted on two or three active volunteers to run his campaign and never appealed to the student vote. Still, the consensus of local political sages was that his election was a sure thing,” Time reported. “They were wrong. Mayor Thomas, who admitted he was shocked by the results, was ousted and finished fourth behind Council Incumbent Wilbur Brookover who, near the end of the campaign, switched signals and began speaking and debating on campus.”
The East Lansing Towne Courier reported in 1995: “After a 10-year stint as mayor, Thomas said it was difficult to name his greatest achievement while in office. ‘I think it would have to be the passing of the open housing ordinance – we had no ordinance prohibiting discrimination in housing,’ Thomas said. He recalled the ordinance initially failed with a 2-3 vote, but then passed unanimously a year or two later. ‘No one said anything about it – we just passed it.’ Also during his term as mayor, many things were built in the city, such as the library, the city garage and the water treatment plant.”
In 1983, he received the Albion College Distinguished Alumni Award.
Death and legacy
Gordon Thomas died in 1997 in East Lansing. Upon his death, a Lansing State JournalLansing State Journal
The Lansing State Journal is a daily newspaper published in Lansing, Michigan owned by Gannett.-Overview:The Lansing State Journal is the sole daily newspaper published in metropolitan Lansing...
editorial included the following insight: "For years, the name Gordon Thomas stood for the steady, stable foundation of East Lansing. From 1961 to 1971, the former mayor guided the city through the turmoil of civil disruption, war protests and rights marches. In later years, he remained a trusted adviser, a connoisseur of the city's rich history. Thomas' death this week diminishes the city. He understood the dynamics of a vibrant college town and helped lay the groundwork for nurturing a diverse community ..."
His remains were interred at Elkland Township
Elkland Township, Michigan
Elkland Township is a civil township of Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,659 at the 2000 census.The village of Cass City is located within the southern part of the township.-Geography:...
Cemetery (also known as (Cass City Cemetery), near Cass City
Cass City, Michigan
Cass City is a village in Tuscola County in the Flint/Tri-Cities area of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,428 at the 2010 U.S. Census and 2,643 at the 2000 U.S. Census . It is located along the M-81 state trunkline approximately 4 miles west of that highway's intersection with M-53...
, Tuscola County, Michigan
Tuscola County, Michigan
-Highways:* M-15* M-24* M-25* M-46* M-81* M-138-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 58,266 people, 21,454 households, and 15,983 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile . There were 23,378 housing units at an average density of 29 per...
.