Milton Ward "Chuck" Thomas -- Civic Leader, Farmer and Businessman

 

M.W. “Chuck” Thomas was a noted civic leader, farmer and businessman who was a native of Trigg County, Kentucky.

Usually, Chuck was seen wearing a white Stetson hat, a string bow tie, and sporting a Clark Gable-like mustache. Thomas was well known and well liked, and was a larger-than-life figure.

He served as a Trigg County Magistrate, director and president of the Trigg County Farm Bureau, director of the Trigg County Hospital, and director of the Trigg County Planning and Development Association. Thomas represented Kentucky on the national board of directors of the National Farmers Organization. He was a founder and the first Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Cadiz.  He served as Warden of the Kentucky State Penitentiary from 1956 to 1960.  He was also in the farm implement and auto business in Cadiz.

Thomas was also an extensive land owner in Trigg, Lyon and Caldwell counties in Kentucky. His 3,000-acre farm was known as “Thomas Territory” and included 16 miles of highway frontage. He was known for his ability to bring beauty and order out of worn-out and neglected farm land. He worked to control erosion and replace devastated forests. Thomas loved the land and constantly sought to improve it.

Being so tall, children often asked him about his height. "I am five feet and seventeen inches tall" is Thomas' reply. "This surprises them until they figure it more closely."

Thomas died at the age of 61 from cancer. He completed his own funeral arrangements three months earlier and gave them to his friend, Chat Maxfield, owner of Goodwin Funeral Home. Maxfield located an 80-year-old hearse at Murray, Kentucky. The white horses were found in Caldwell County, and had to be quickly trained to pull the hearse.

Chuck was carried to his grave in the manner of “days gone by” – in an antique hearse drawn by two white horses. An African-American choir sang and more than 1,000 friends followed the procession on foot down a long farm road between fences adorned with flowers. The procession ended at the lone grave in an open field.

(Portions adapted from "Cadiz - Trigg County, Kentucky Bicentennial" Facebook page, October 28, 2020.)

 

 

THE LINEAGE:

(Milton Ward “Chuck” Thomas was the son of William “Willie” Robert and Mary Jane Ingram Thomas, grandson of Robert Allison and Emma Nora Cunningham Thomas and great-grandson of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas.  Stanley was the second child 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.)