Luther Thompson Thomas -- Farmer, Businessman, Politician and Prison Warden

 

Luther Thompson Thomas---a farmer, businessman, politician and veteran county official--and as a Kentucky State Penitentiary Warden became dedicated to the cause of the some of Kentucky's most difficult prison inmates.

After a long career in county public service and in business, Warden Thomas took over direction of Kentucky's huge maximum security institution at Eddyville, Kentucky in October of 1961. Appointed by Governor Bert Combs, he tackled the job without any formal training in penology. Talented in administration and in dealing with people in all walks of life, Warden Thomas soon began to get solid, progressive results in management of the towering prison with more than 1,200 inmates, including many hardened life-termers and some on death row. Beyond the first concern--security--Warden Thomas emphasized prison schoolwork, treatment for mental or other handicaps, job training and other steps aimed at giving convicts a better chance of success when they leave prison.

Erection of a full-scale school inside the towering stone walls of the prison on a bluff overlooking the Cumberland River featured the three-year term of Warden Thomas. The warden conceived the idea of the school, acquired bricks and other surplus materials from the Army Corps of Engineers relocation of the city of Eddyville, and used inmate labor to construct the building at a cost of about a fourth of its appraised value. (Note, in January, 1967 Governor Edward T. Breathitt named it the Luther Thomas School and held a dedication ceremony).

One of 10 children--five boys and five girls, Warden Thomas was born in the Oak Grove section of Trigg County, the son of farmer Wesley Thomas. He attended the community school and his formal education ended with the eighth grade. He grew up on the farm, and at age 20, became a part-time automobile salesman in Cadiz, Kentucky. In 1933, he entered politics and was elected to a four-year term as Trigg County tax commissioner. He was elected to three more terms and served until 1949. He also had the Ford automobile dealership in Cadiz from 1936 to 1952 as well as a tractor and implement company which he started in 1939 and owned at the time of his death. He was also owned and operated two farms in Trigg County.

Very active in local economic and industrial development efforts, Mr. Thomas was the first president of the Trigg County Planning and Development Association, as well as serving as the board chairman and one of the principal organizers behind the community fund-raising drive to build Trigg County Hospital in 1952.

In 1957, the warden was elected as Trigg County sheriff, and was nearing the end of the term when Governor Combs selected him to replace the previous warden who had died in office. He was very active with the state sheriffs' association and served as one of its officers. He was a member and former president of the Cadiz Lions Club.

Mr. Thomas was a longtime Democratic leader in his county and state, and was a close associate of the influential Trigg County Broadbent family. He took a leading part in many county, district, state and national political campaigns. Often "behind the scenes" but, being a fluent speaker, he sometimes held "lead" positions in elections or other political activity.

Luther Thompson Thomas passed away at the age of 62 on January 20, 1965 in Louisville, Kentucky.

 

 THE LINEAGE:

(Luther Thompson Thomas was the son of Wesley Gunn and Eliza L. Henderson Thomas, grandson of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas, and great-grandson of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.  Mary was the seventh child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges)