James William "Tommy" Thomas, was born October 21, 1923, in Madison County, Arkansas. He was the second son of Daniel Boone Thomas and Lucy Ann (Logue) Thomas. His life on earth ended July 15, 2008.

About 1930, Tommy's family moved in a wagon and team to a family farm in the Haskell, Oklahoma area. He attended the Haskell Public Schools and excelled as an athlete.

When World War II began, Tommy quit school to serve his country. He and a friend worked in a California shipyard until he could join the U.S. Navy. After entering the service, he married his high-school sweetheart, Mary Jane Quinn, of Haskell.

Tommy was a gunner with Crew 29, U.S. Navy Patrol Bombing Squadron 116 (The Blue Raiders), in the Pacific campaigns of Iwo Jima, Peleliu, Saipan, and Tinian. Among other decorations, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals for "Heroism and extraordinary achievement in Aerial Combat against Japanese Naval and Air Forces. He was extremely proud of his Naval service and always mindful of his comrades who did not return from the South Pacific.

Following the war, Tommy completed high school and business college. He joined three members of the John Anderson Family of Muskogee, Oklahoma, to form Anderson Distributing Company. The company grew into Anderson Wholesale company, a multi-million dollar corporation with operations in several states.

In 1960, Tommy became General Manager of Texoma Drug Sales in Durant , Oklahoma, an Anderson subsidiary. He served in that position until 1972 when he returned to Muskogee as General Manager of Anderson Wholesale.

After more than 50 years with Anderson, Tommy retired in 1999. As long as he was able, he enjoyed woodworking, gardening and spoiling his grandchildren. He and Jane were active in the Trinity Methodist Church of Muskogee.

He is survived by his wife Jane, his sons, John and Terry Thomas of Tulsa, and his daughter, Patti Hill, of Springdale, Arkansas; three sisters - Edna Jackson of Richland, Washington, Euna Martin of Haskell, Oklahoma, and Mavis Mashburn of Broken Bow, Oklahoma. He will be greatly missed by his six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his only brother, Daniel Jack Thomas, and his infant son, James William Thomas, Jr.

A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at the Trinity Methodist Church, 518 Houston Street, Muskogee, Oklahoma. Arrangements under the direction of Shipman's Muskogee Cremation & Funeral Service, 1325 N. York, Muskogee, Oklahoma.