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| Charles Walker Thomas President, 1977-1980 June 11, 1921- April 22, 1996 |
| By Cynthia Neverdon-Morton |
A native Washingtonian, Dr. Charles Walker
Thomas, son of the late Spencer Thomas and the
late Molly Thomas, received his early education in
the District of Columbia Public School System:
Deanwood (Now Carver) Elementary School and
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, from which he
graduated in 1929 with high honors.
In 1933 he earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in
English from Oberlin College, where he spent his
freshman, junior, and senior years and where he
was elected in 1933 to Phi Beta Kappa. During his
sophomore year he was honored by being chosen to
Thomas, son of the late Spencer Thomas and the
late Molly Thomas, received his early education in
the District of Columbia Public School System:
Deanwood (Now Carver) Elementary School and
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, from which he
graduated in 1929 with high honors.
In 1933 he earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in
English from Oberlin College, where he spent his
freshman, junior, and senior years and where he
was elected in 1933 to Phi Beta Kappa. During his
sophomore year he was honored by being chosen to
| From Negro History Bulletin. Volume: 60. No.1, January-March 1997. Copyright by the Association for the Study of African American History |
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Founders of Black History Month
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matriculate at Tufts University and in 1938, he earned from Harvard
University the Master of Arts degree in English. In 1955, he was awarded from
Harvard the Ph.D. degree in Eighteenth-Century English Literature with a
dissertation on The Religious Thought of William Law.
Dr. Thomas' range of experience in teaching extends from beginning his career
as Professor and head of the Department of English at Claflin College (1934-38),
to serving as teacher and Head of the Department of English at Southern
University (193840); instructor in English at West Virginia State College
(11940-42); Assistant Professor of English and Dean of Men at West Virginia
State College (1946-47); teacher of English and history at Garnet-Patterson
Junior High School, Washington, D.C. (1947-48); teacher of English and Speech
at Dunbar Senior High School, Washington, D.C. (1948-49); Assistant Professor
of English at the Minor Teachers College (1949-55); Assistant Professor and
Professor of English at the District of Columbia Teachers College (1955-75) and
Lecturer in the Department of English at Howard University (1976-81),
following his retirement from the District of Columbia Teachers College.
In addition to a distinguished career as a teacher, Dr. Thomas gained the
reputation of a compassionate and most competent administrator at the District
of Columbia Teachers College. He served as Director of Admissions and
Registrar (1955-67), Dean of Students (at the District of Columbia Teachers
College and the Federal City College, (1963-75); and Interim Executive Officer
(1974-75).
Charles Walker Thomas demonstrated his extraordinary versatility by
intermingling his academic and military careers. From 1942-1946, Dr. Charles
Thomas served in World War II as an Army Chaplain in the South Pacific
Theater, and from 1951-52 as Chaplain during the Korean Conflict. He
remained a Chaplain in the United States Army Reserve until his retirement at
the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1972. After his retirement he continued to be
active with the Reserve Officers Association in which he became the first African
American to be elected National Chaplain.
Those who came into contact with Dr. Thomas soon realized that the motivating
force behind his successes was his deep and abiding religious faith. In addition to
serving as Chaplain in the military, he served as minister of the Samaritan
Baptist Church, West Virginia (1946-47); as Interim Minister of the Berean
Baptist Church (fall of 1947); and Interim Minister of Plymouth Congregational
Church (summer of 1953).
The Reverend Doctor Charles Walker Thomas demonstrated the value of his
academic training and of his religious faith in articles which he published in the
Journal of Religious Thought, the Journal of the Columbian Educational
Association, the Journal of Teacher Education, the Negro History Bulletin, and
the Journal of Negro History.
He was affiliated actively with numerous organizations, boards, and committees,
among them the College Language Association, the National Education
Association, Institute of Religion, the Military Chaplains Association. Phi Delta
Kappa, the Editorial Board of The Journal of Negro History (1955-72), and the
Negro History Bulletin, of which he was editor from 1964-66. He served as
Secretary-Treasurer and President (1977-80) of the Association for the Study of
Afro-American Life and History and as Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity and President of the Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha from
1974-76.
Dr. Thomas was the recipient of a number of honor and awards: Citation as one
of twenty-one great Black men in Washington, D.C., May 1971; the Mayor's
Distinguished Public Service Award for 1971; the "Outstanding Meritorious
Service Medal" as Command Chaplain, 97th US ARCOM, 1968-72. On May 13,
1989, the University of the District of Columbia conferred upon him the
honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of his long and distinguished
service.
Survivors include a devoted wife, Johnnie Childress Thomas; a son, Charles
Walker Thomas, Jr.; a brother, Allen S. Thomas; two granddaughters, Carla Joy
and Kristin LaVonne Thomas; a daughter-in-law, LaVonne Hall Thomas; and a
number (host) of loving relatives and friends.
University the Master of Arts degree in English. In 1955, he was awarded from
Harvard the Ph.D. degree in Eighteenth-Century English Literature with a
dissertation on The Religious Thought of William Law.
Dr. Thomas' range of experience in teaching extends from beginning his career
as Professor and head of the Department of English at Claflin College (1934-38),
to serving as teacher and Head of the Department of English at Southern
University (193840); instructor in English at West Virginia State College
(11940-42); Assistant Professor of English and Dean of Men at West Virginia
State College (1946-47); teacher of English and history at Garnet-Patterson
Junior High School, Washington, D.C. (1947-48); teacher of English and Speech
at Dunbar Senior High School, Washington, D.C. (1948-49); Assistant Professor
of English at the Minor Teachers College (1949-55); Assistant Professor and
Professor of English at the District of Columbia Teachers College (1955-75) and
Lecturer in the Department of English at Howard University (1976-81),
following his retirement from the District of Columbia Teachers College.
In addition to a distinguished career as a teacher, Dr. Thomas gained the
reputation of a compassionate and most competent administrator at the District
of Columbia Teachers College. He served as Director of Admissions and
Registrar (1955-67), Dean of Students (at the District of Columbia Teachers
College and the Federal City College, (1963-75); and Interim Executive Officer
(1974-75).
Charles Walker Thomas demonstrated his extraordinary versatility by
intermingling his academic and military careers. From 1942-1946, Dr. Charles
Thomas served in World War II as an Army Chaplain in the South Pacific
Theater, and from 1951-52 as Chaplain during the Korean Conflict. He
remained a Chaplain in the United States Army Reserve until his retirement at
the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1972. After his retirement he continued to be
active with the Reserve Officers Association in which he became the first African
American to be elected National Chaplain.
Those who came into contact with Dr. Thomas soon realized that the motivating
force behind his successes was his deep and abiding religious faith. In addition to
serving as Chaplain in the military, he served as minister of the Samaritan
Baptist Church, West Virginia (1946-47); as Interim Minister of the Berean
Baptist Church (fall of 1947); and Interim Minister of Plymouth Congregational
Church (summer of 1953).
The Reverend Doctor Charles Walker Thomas demonstrated the value of his
academic training and of his religious faith in articles which he published in the
Journal of Religious Thought, the Journal of the Columbian Educational
Association, the Journal of Teacher Education, the Negro History Bulletin, and
the Journal of Negro History.
He was affiliated actively with numerous organizations, boards, and committees,
among them the College Language Association, the National Education
Association, Institute of Religion, the Military Chaplains Association. Phi Delta
Kappa, the Editorial Board of The Journal of Negro History (1955-72), and the
Negro History Bulletin, of which he was editor from 1964-66. He served as
Secretary-Treasurer and President (1977-80) of the Association for the Study of
Afro-American Life and History and as Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity and President of the Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha from
1974-76.
Dr. Thomas was the recipient of a number of honor and awards: Citation as one
of twenty-one great Black men in Washington, D.C., May 1971; the Mayor's
Distinguished Public Service Award for 1971; the "Outstanding Meritorious
Service Medal" as Command Chaplain, 97th US ARCOM, 1968-72. On May 13,
1989, the University of the District of Columbia conferred upon him the
honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of his long and distinguished
service.
Survivors include a devoted wife, Johnnie Childress Thomas; a son, Charles
Walker Thomas, Jr.; a brother, Allen S. Thomas; two granddaughters, Carla Joy
and Kristin LaVonne Thomas; a daughter-in-law, LaVonne Hall Thomas; and a
number (host) of loving relatives and friends.
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