Tina Louise Thomas
Encyclopedia
Tina Louise Thomas is a former Miss Pennsylvania
(1973) and Miss America
Scholarship Pageant national talent winner and runner-up (1974), as well as being an accomplished singer, musician, songwriter, writer and editor. Thomas was baptized Christina Hatzithomas in her father’s Greek Orthodox Church. (Hatzi is a preface to a family name given to descendants of ancestors baptized in the River Jordan).
about her platform issues and she was, subsequently, honored by them with a Citation, commending her talent, beauty and academic achievements. She had earlier received a similar recognition from the Pennsylvania State Senate
at the State Capitol Rotunda.
Five days later, on June 30, Thomas was the official ribbon-cutter who opened the now world famous Hershey's Chocolate World
.
Thomas, who was accompanied by the Glenn Osser Orchestra, won the Preliminary Talent Award at the 47th Miss America
pageant, held at Boardwalk Hall
in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which was presented by Terry Meeuwsen, Miss America 1973, as well as at every pageant she entered on her journey to Atlantic City. Additionally, Thomas won the swimsuit competition in each of her local and state contests.
Thomas's winning performance on the national stage showcased her vocal beauty when she sang the gospel masterpiece Take My Hand, Precious Lord, written in 1932 by Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey
and arranged by Paul Mann, to a standing ovation. Rev. Dorsey, the "father of black gospel music," went on to write an article in Christian Life magazine "Jesus Took My Hand" (describing the experiences he went through prior to writing the song) where he mentioned her. He wrote, "And, it was the song that helped Tina Thomas, Miss Pennsylvania, win the Miss America talent competition."
Radio and TV personality Soupy Sales
said that Thomas had been his choice for Miss America and complimented her beauty and talent on the show What's My Line. Additionally, legendary Paul Harvey
praised Thomas's religious stance, as well as her talent, on his noon broadcast two days later, Sept 12, 1973.
Early in her pageant days Thomas was sought after to assist in raising awareness and funds for various causes, including disadvantaged youth and retarded children, multiple sclerosis, the Salvation Army,
Teen Challenge, the American Heart Association, the Arthritis Fund, and Easter Seals, where she appeared on telethons, radio and television shows and commercials, performed at concerts on their behalf, as well as led and participated in activities such as Bike Hikes.
Throughout Thomas's pageant years, leading up to and including her run at Miss America, where she competed as the youngest contestant that year at the age of 18, her primary platform was against substance abuse. Her many actions were recognized when she became the recipient of the Red Rose City Outstanding Citizen Award on September 25, 1973 and was made an International Honorary Member of Beta Sigma Phi.
The August 1974 issue of Christian Life magazine carried Thomas' personal written testimony under the banner heading "Beauty for the Lord," which was re-printed in May 1975 by Greek Youth Magazine for distribution in the U.S. and in Greece.
, Bill Gaither
Trio, The Happy Goodman Family
, Dottie Rambo
, Reba Rambo, Speer Family
, The Cathedrals, the Kingsmen Quartet
, Blackwood Brothers, Larry Ferrari, the Jacobs Brothers, the Blue Ridge Quartet and the Couriers. At many of the concerts Tina was accompanied on the piano by William D. (Bill) Crabtree.
There were several concerts where Thomas either opened for or sang with author and singer Dale Evans
Rogers. The first was a televised concert on November 17, 1972. Two other engagements were opening for Ms. Evans August 7 and 8, 1973 in Chautauqua
, New York
, when Thomas was accompanied by multi-award-winning jazz pianist George Shearing
, and at the historic Ocean Grove, NJ Great Auditorium and Casino Asbury Park, for the 50th Annual Convention of the National Federation of Men's Bible Classes weekend concert series, June 21–23, 1974.
In July 1973, shortly after winning the Miss Pennsylvania crown, Thomas was invited by the then-Pennsylvania Secretary of State, C. Delores Tucker
, (the first African-American Secretary of State in the U.S.) to sing at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, where Governor Milton J. Shapp presented her with a Gubernatorial Commendation. Two months later Thomas appeared with Shapp and Tucker as a speaker and soloist for a civil rights event in Philadelphia, PA. She also performed at the Pennsylvania Governor's Bi-Centennial Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast on November 16, 1976.
Prior to the 1975 Greater Mississippi Billy Graham Crusade held at Veteran's Memorial Stadium in Jackson, MS, Thomas performed and gave personal Testimony for the Crusade members.
Thomas made two singing appearances on Christian Broadcasting Network
's The 700 Club
. On her first engagement, August 3, 1977, she sang My Tribute, by Andrae Crouch
and was interviewed by Dr. Pat Robertson
and on her second engagement, September 27, 1978, she performed several songs from her album, Servant’’.
During December 1978, at the Fulton Opera House
, Thomas starred as the leading lady where she sang and danced in the tribute performance "The Rogers and Hart Production" with Metropolitan Opera star John Darrenkamp. The final performance of the show was held New Year's Eve.
complimented on The Tonight Show
, ultimately led her to recording an album at Superior Sound Studios in 1976, Servant, a sacred music album produced by Wayne Hilton and engineered by Fred Cameron. Her booking agent, at the time, was famed classic car auctioneer Russell Kruse, founder of Kruse International
.
Although Thomas declined offers to pursue a singing career following the release of Servant, deciding, instead, to raise a family, she was active and contributed to the field by providing individual vocal lessons and coaching stage performers to aspiring singers and musicians.
Along with working out and a healthy lifestyle, the hobbies and avocations she has enjoyed include dancing, playing piano, writing poetry, art, and astronomy. Thomas has also appreciated the great outdoors and the many activities it offers and became both a certified sailor and a certified scuba diver. Her sons, Austin and Aaron, are, as well, performers and athletic.
Thomas has supported and been involved in her community in many ways. As a member of the Main Street Acting Company, Thomas assisted in the production, choreography and performed in a televised presentation of “The Easter Story,” held on Good Friday, April 17, 1992. She also became certified to counsel at a domestic violence center and is both a certified classroom tutor and supervisor, working with at-risk elementary school students and alternative education middle and high school students in a remedial reading program.
Since 1994 she has been a judge in the annual Miss Optimist competition judging the essays and oral presentations of the contestants. Additionally, she was a contributing writer, and also served as a co-editor, for Wing Beat magazine, devoted to the ancient sport of falconry, from December 1994 to December 1996. Aside from sacred music, Thomas has been an avid fan and writer of jazz and blues music since her youth.
Miss Pennsylvania
The Miss Pennsylvania competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Pennsylvania in the Miss America Pageant. Pennsylvania, including early years' city representatives, has won the Miss American crown on 5 occasions....
(1973) and Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
Scholarship Pageant national talent winner and runner-up (1974), as well as being an accomplished singer, musician, songwriter, writer and editor. Thomas was baptized Christina Hatzithomas in her father’s Greek Orthodox Church. (Hatzi is a preface to a family name given to descendants of ancestors baptized in the River Jordan).
Pageant Days
On June 25, 1973, shortly after winning the state's pageant title, Thomas was invited to speak to the Pennsylvania House of RepresentativesPennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
about her platform issues and she was, subsequently, honored by them with a Citation, commending her talent, beauty and academic achievements. She had earlier received a similar recognition from the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
at the State Capitol Rotunda.
Five days later, on June 30, Thomas was the official ribbon-cutter who opened the now world famous Hershey's Chocolate World
Hershey's Chocolate World
Hershey’s Chocolate World is the name of Hershey’s visitor center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States. Open year-round, Hershey's Chocolate World offers marketplace shops and restaurants, specializing in Hershey's chocolate products...
.
Thomas, who was accompanied by the Glenn Osser Orchestra, won the Preliminary Talent Award at the 47th Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
pageant, held at Boardwalk Hall
Boardwalk Hall
Boardwalk Hall, formally known as the Historic Atlantic City Convention Hall, is an arena in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States...
in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which was presented by Terry Meeuwsen, Miss America 1973, as well as at every pageant she entered on her journey to Atlantic City. Additionally, Thomas won the swimsuit competition in each of her local and state contests.
Thomas's winning performance on the national stage showcased her vocal beauty when she sang the gospel masterpiece Take My Hand, Precious Lord, written in 1932 by Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey
Thomas A. Dorsey
Thomas Andrew Dorsey was known as "the father of black gospel music" and was at one time so closely associated with the field that songs written in the new style were sometimes known as "dorseys." Earlier in his life he was a leading blues pianist known as Georgia Tom.As formulated by Dorsey,...
and arranged by Paul Mann, to a standing ovation. Rev. Dorsey, the "father of black gospel music," went on to write an article in Christian Life magazine "Jesus Took My Hand" (describing the experiences he went through prior to writing the song) where he mentioned her. He wrote, "And, it was the song that helped Tina Thomas, Miss Pennsylvania, win the Miss America talent competition."
Radio and TV personality Soupy Sales
Soupy Sales
Soupy Sales was an American comedian, actor, radio-TV personality and host, and jazz aficionado. He was best known for his local and network children's television show, Lunch with Soupy Sales; a series of comedy sketches frequently ending with Sales receiving a pie in the face, which became his...
said that Thomas had been his choice for Miss America and complimented her beauty and talent on the show What's My Line. Additionally, legendary Paul Harvey
Paul Harvey
Paul Harvey Aurandt , better known as Paul Harvey, was an American radio broadcaster for the ABC Radio Networks. He broadcast News and Comment on weekday mornings and mid-days, and at noon on Saturdays, as well as his famous The Rest of the Story segments. His listening audience was estimated, at...
praised Thomas's religious stance, as well as her talent, on his noon broadcast two days later, Sept 12, 1973.
Early in her pageant days Thomas was sought after to assist in raising awareness and funds for various causes, including disadvantaged youth and retarded children, multiple sclerosis, the Salvation Army,
Teen Challenge, the American Heart Association, the Arthritis Fund, and Easter Seals, where she appeared on telethons, radio and television shows and commercials, performed at concerts on their behalf, as well as led and participated in activities such as Bike Hikes.
Throughout Thomas's pageant years, leading up to and including her run at Miss America, where she competed as the youngest contestant that year at the age of 18, her primary platform was against substance abuse. Her many actions were recognized when she became the recipient of the Red Rose City Outstanding Citizen Award on September 25, 1973 and was made an International Honorary Member of Beta Sigma Phi.
The August 1974 issue of Christian Life magazine carried Thomas' personal written testimony under the banner heading "Beauty for the Lord," which was re-printed in May 1975 by Greek Youth Magazine for distribution in the U.S. and in Greece.
Performances
Between 1972 and 1979, Thomas shared the concert stage, many of which were televised, with an array of people and groups, several of whom were Grammy and Dove award winners. Among them were: the Oak Ridge Boys, Roy RogersRoy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
, Bill Gaither
Bill Gaither
William J. Gaither is an American singer and songwriter of southern gospel and Contemporary Christian music. Besides having written numerous popular Christian songs with his wife, Gloria, he is also known for performing as part of the Bill Gaither Trio, and the Gaither Vocal Band...
Trio, The Happy Goodman Family
The Happy Goodman Family
The Happy Goodman Family was a Southern Gospel group founded in the 1940s by Howard "Happy" Goodman.The Happy Goodman Family began to be known for their singing around 1950. During the 1940s and 1950s there were various combinations of all eight brothers and sisters, with Howard being constant...
, Dottie Rambo
Dottie Rambo
Dottie Rambo was an American gospel singer and songwriter. She was a Grammy and multiple Dove Award-winning artist. Rambo, along with husband Buck and daughter Reba, formed the award-winning southern Gospel group, The Rambos...
, Reba Rambo, Speer Family
Speer Family
The Speer Family, a Southern Gospel family group, was founded in 1921 by George Thomas Speer , his wife Lena Speer, and his sister and brother-in-law Pearl and Logan Claborn.-Early years:...
, The Cathedrals, the Kingsmen Quartet
Kingsmen Quartet
The Kingsmen Quartet is an American Christian music group.-Musical career:The Kingsmen are a Southern Gospel vocal quartet based out of Asheville, North Carolina. Many legends of Southern Gospel have been members of The Kingsmen...
, Blackwood Brothers, Larry Ferrari, the Jacobs Brothers, the Blue Ridge Quartet and the Couriers. At many of the concerts Tina was accompanied on the piano by William D. (Bill) Crabtree.
There were several concerts where Thomas either opened for or sang with author and singer Dale Evans
Dale Evans
Dale Evans, was an American writer, movie star, and singer-songwriter. She was the third wife of singing cowboy Roy Rogers.-Early life:...
Rogers. The first was a televised concert on November 17, 1972. Two other engagements were opening for Ms. Evans August 7 and 8, 1973 in Chautauqua
Chautauqua
Chautauqua was an adult education movement in the United States, highly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chautauqua assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid-1920s. The Chautauqua brought entertainment and culture for the whole community, with...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, when Thomas was accompanied by multi-award-winning jazz pianist George Shearing
George Shearing
Sir George Shearing, OBE was an Anglo-American jazz pianist who for many years led a popular jazz group that recorded for MGM Records and Capitol Records. The composer of over 300 titles, he had multiple albums on the Billboard charts during the 1950s, 1960s, 1980s and 1990s...
, and at the historic Ocean Grove, NJ Great Auditorium and Casino Asbury Park, for the 50th Annual Convention of the National Federation of Men's Bible Classes weekend concert series, June 21–23, 1974.
In July 1973, shortly after winning the Miss Pennsylvania crown, Thomas was invited by the then-Pennsylvania Secretary of State, C. Delores Tucker
C. Delores Tucker
C. DeLores Tucker was a U.S. politician and civil rights activist best known for her participation in the Civil Rights Movement and stance against gangsta rap music.-Early life:...
, (the first African-American Secretary of State in the U.S.) to sing at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, where Governor Milton J. Shapp presented her with a Gubernatorial Commendation. Two months later Thomas appeared with Shapp and Tucker as a speaker and soloist for a civil rights event in Philadelphia, PA. She also performed at the Pennsylvania Governor's Bi-Centennial Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast on November 16, 1976.
Prior to the 1975 Greater Mississippi Billy Graham Crusade held at Veteran's Memorial Stadium in Jackson, MS, Thomas performed and gave personal Testimony for the Crusade members.
Thomas made two singing appearances on Christian Broadcasting Network
Christian Broadcasting Network
The Christian Broadcasting Network, or CBN, is a fundamentalist Christian television broadcasting network in the United States. Its headquarters and main studios are in Virginia Beach, Virginia.-Background:...
's The 700 Club
The 700 Club
The 700 Club is the flagship news talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing in syndication throughout the United States and Canada. In production since 1966, it is currently hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Kristi Watts, and Gordon P. Robertson, two of whom will host on any...
. On her first engagement, August 3, 1977, she sang My Tribute, by Andrae Crouch
Andrae Crouch
Andraé Crouch is a seven-time Grammy Award-winning American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, recording artist, record producer, and pastor.-Early years:Born Andraé Edward Crouch in San Francisco, California....
and was interviewed by Dr. Pat Robertson
Pat Robertson
Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson is a media mogul, television evangelist, ex-Baptist minister and businessman who is politically aligned with the Christian Right in the United States....
and on her second engagement, September 27, 1978, she performed several songs from her album, Servant’’.
During December 1978, at the Fulton Opera House
Fulton Opera House
The Fulton Opera House, also known as the Fulton Theatre or simply The Fulton, is a League of Regional Theatres class C regional theater located in historic downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania.-Building:...
, Thomas starred as the leading lady where she sang and danced in the tribute performance "The Rogers and Hart Production" with Metropolitan Opera star John Darrenkamp. The final performance of the show was held New Year's Eve.
The Years Following
Her elegant soprano voice, which Johnny CarsonJohnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
complimented on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
, ultimately led her to recording an album at Superior Sound Studios in 1976, Servant, a sacred music album produced by Wayne Hilton and engineered by Fred Cameron. Her booking agent, at the time, was famed classic car auctioneer Russell Kruse, founder of Kruse International
Kruse International
Kruse International is an auction firm founded by Russell Kruse in Auburn, Indiana in 1952. The company began as a local auction company selling real estate, farms and personal property run by Russell Kruse and his sons Dean, Dennis, and Daniel...
.
Although Thomas declined offers to pursue a singing career following the release of Servant, deciding, instead, to raise a family, she was active and contributed to the field by providing individual vocal lessons and coaching stage performers to aspiring singers and musicians.
Along with working out and a healthy lifestyle, the hobbies and avocations she has enjoyed include dancing, playing piano, writing poetry, art, and astronomy. Thomas has also appreciated the great outdoors and the many activities it offers and became both a certified sailor and a certified scuba diver. Her sons, Austin and Aaron, are, as well, performers and athletic.
Thomas has supported and been involved in her community in many ways. As a member of the Main Street Acting Company, Thomas assisted in the production, choreography and performed in a televised presentation of “The Easter Story,” held on Good Friday, April 17, 1992. She also became certified to counsel at a domestic violence center and is both a certified classroom tutor and supervisor, working with at-risk elementary school students and alternative education middle and high school students in a remedial reading program.
Since 1994 she has been a judge in the annual Miss Optimist competition judging the essays and oral presentations of the contestants. Additionally, she was a contributing writer, and also served as a co-editor, for Wing Beat magazine, devoted to the ancient sport of falconry, from December 1994 to December 1996. Aside from sacred music, Thomas has been an avid fan and writer of jazz and blues music since her youth.
Track listing
- Servant (Eileen)
- Sing/Simple Song (Joe Raposo) (Honeytree)
- Flesh Of My Flesh (Randy Matthews)
- He Is God (Lindstrom)
- Take My Hand, Precious Lord (Thomas A. Dorsey)
- I Am Your Servant (Larry Norman)
- Amazing Grace (Words: John Newton / Music: Samuel Stanley)
- Drinkin' (Honeytree)
- Ave Maria (Charles B. Marks)
- The Lord's Prayer (Albert Hay Malotte)
Production
- Produced By Wayne Hilton
- Recorded at Superior Sound Studios, Hendersonville, Tennessee
- Engineer & Remix: Fred Cameron
- Art, Design and Layout: Fred Satterfield
Personnel
- Keyboards: BeeGee Cruser Adair
- Bass: James “Duke” Dumas
- Drums: Fred Satterfield
- Acoustic Guitar: Wayne Hilton
- Percussion: Farrell Morris
- Harp: Cindy Reynolds
- Brass and string arrangements: Roger Bissell
- Backing Vocal: Tina Louise Thomas