Howell Moore "Billy" Thomas -- Civil Engineer, Coal Mine Operator and Governmental Advisor

 

Howell Moore Thomas was born on February 10, 1906 on a farm operated by his parents in Trigg County, Kentucky.  His father was a successful farmer and his mother was a school teacher.  He acquired his nickname "Billy" when he was still a baby.  His older brother Howard liked to nickname all his brothers and sisters and gave his younger brother the nickname of "Hillbilly" but the name was later shortened to "Billy" by the time he attended grade school. He graduated from the old Cadiz High School in 1926,

Following graduation from high school, Billy became a civil engineer with the state of Kentucky engineering department.  His surveying and engineering skills were taught to him by his older brother.  Billy was an engineer with the Kentucky Highway Department for sixteen years.  The last four years was as a design engineer preparing plans and cost estimates for highway construction.  During World War II, he was an engineer with the United States Corps of Engineers where he was responsible for the design of new airports.  The Bowling Green Kentucky airport was one of him many projects.

On August 6, 1932, Billy married Opal Charles whom he had met while working in the Pikeville, Kentucky area with the Kentucky State Highway Department. Opal, a school teacher, was born on May 2, 1911.

Billy started a second career on August 15, 1945 when he moved to Grundy, Virginia and became an independent coal operator owner.  His civil engineering background and inquisitive nature was instrumental in finding coal deposits on properties.  His company, the Old Virginia Coal Corporation was very successful.  Billy bought a railroad loading dock in Grundy, Virginia for exporting coal.  This business was quite successful during the energy crisis of the 1970s.

Billy also had a third career in politics and served in several governmental capacities.  He served in Virginia's Buchanan County Democratic Party for over seven years and was elected as a National Democratic Delegate from the Ninth Congressional District in which he attended the Presidential Nominating Convention in New York City in July, 1976 and helped nominate Jimmy Carter for president.  Billy and his wife attended a reception for Pope John Paul in 1979 at the invitation of President Carter.  President Carter also asked Billy to serve on conferences to discuss foreign and domestic affairs with Carter's senior advisors.  In 1985, the Governor of Virginia appointed Billy to serve as a member of the Virginia College Building Authority.

Billy never forgot his Kentucky and Trigg County roots.  He was a great horse racing fan and would attend horse races during the racing season in Kentucky. He would always attend the Kentucky Derby in May of each year. He and his wife would travel to Trigg County each year to attend his high school reunions and the Thomas-Bridges Family reunions.

Billy died at the age of 89 on Sunday, April 16, 1995 in Grundy, Virginia, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.  He and his wife are buried in the Mountain Valley Memorial Park in Big Rock, Virginia.

Burial Site for Howell Moore "Billy" Thomas at the Bethel Cemetery

LINEAGE:

(Howell Moore “Billy” Thomas was the son of John Quincy and Catherine Bruff Thomas and the grandson of Allison W. and Catherine Elizabeth Carloss Thomas.  Allison was the third child of Perry and Elizabeth Josephine Bridges Thomas.  Perry was the third child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.  Elizabeth was the sixth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)