John W. Thomas

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John W. Thomas
United States Senator from Idaho
In office June 30, 1928 – March 3, 1933 November 5, 1940 – November 10, 1945
Preceded by	Frank R. Gooding (1928) William E. Borah (1940)
Succeeded by	James P. Pope (1933) Charles C. Gossett (1945)
Born	January 4, 1874 Phillips County, Kansas
Died	November 10, 1945 (aged 71) Washington, D.C.
Political party	Republican
Residence	Gooding
Profession	Teacher, Banker

John W. Thomas (January 4, 1874 – November 10, 1945) was an American Politician. A Republican, he served on two occasions as a United States Senator from Idaho, both times appointed after his predecessor died in office.

[edit] Early life

Born on a farm in Phillips County, Kansas, Thomas attended the rural schools and the Central Normal College at Great Bend, Kansas. He taught school, serving as superintendent of schools of Phillips County, Kansas from 1898 to 1903, and as register of land office at Colby, Kansas from 1906 to 1909, when he moved to Gooding, Idaho, where he engaged in banking and livestock business.

His and his wife Florence had a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Thomas Peavey Brooks, on Nov. 1, 1907.

[edit] Political Life

He was elected mayor of Gooding in 1917 for a two-year term. Thomas was a member of the Republican National Committee from 1925 to 1933.

Thomas was appointed to the United States Senate for the first time in 1928 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his political mentor, Frank R. Gooding, by Governor H. C. Baldridge. He won a special election later that year to finish the term. He chaired the Senate Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation from 1929 to 1933. Thomas was defeated for election to a full six-year term in 1932 by Democrat James P. Pope.

After his 1932 defeat Thomas resumed his former business pursuits. In 1940 he was appointed to the Senate again, this time by Governor C. A. Bottolfsen to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William E. Borah. Thomas won a special election to finish the term later that year and was elected to a full term in 1942, both times defeating Democrat Glen H. Taylor. Thomas died in office three years later.

Thomas is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Gooding.

[edit] Sources

• John W. Thomas at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Find A Grave: John Thomas

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