George Prentice Thomas -- Attorney, Politician and Public Servant

 

George Prentice Thomas was born on Monday, April 19, 1869 in Trigg County, Kentucky.  He was the youngest child of the nine children of Allison William Thomas and Catherine Elizabeth Carloss Thomas. Allison was also born in Trigg County, but his wife Catherine was a native of Sumner County, Tennessee. Two of George’s siblings died in childhood, but the rest grew to adulthood.

George or "G. P." as he was known graduated from Bethel College in Russellville, Kentucky and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity.  After his graduation he was admitted to the bar in 1892 in Cadiz, Kentucky after studying law under Fenton Sims. He had a keen interest in politics and was a leader in the Republican Party for many years in Trigg County.  In 1896, he was elected as the state representative from Trigg County in the Kentucky state legislature. He also served as county attorney, He also ran as a candidate for U. S. congressman in 1916 for Kentucky’s First District. However, that election was won by Alben W. Barkley who later went on to serve as Vice President of the United States from 1949 to 1953.

G. P. married Annie Laurie Meacham on June 8, 1907. Annie was born July 22, 1871 and was from Hopkinsville, Kentucky.  Their marriage took place in Nashville, Tennessee in the home of Annie’s parents, Marion Delain and Georgia Anderson Meacham. The marriage ceremony was conducted by Rev. A. P. Lyon, pastor of the local Methodist Church. G. P.’s best man was Henry R. Lawrence, who was the Adjutant General for the state of Kentucky and the maid of honor was Mellie Meacham, niece of the bride.  G. P. was serving as postmaster in Cadiz at the time of his marriage.

G. P. was appointed as a member of the first board of regents at Murray State University.  Founded in 1923 as Murray State Normal School and later renamed Murray State Teachers College, MSU was one of two schools created in Kentucky in the early 20th century to meet the growing demand for professional teachers. G. P. was sworn in as a member of the Board of Regents in 1924 by the board’s executive secretary, Alice Keys and served on the board for six years. 

George and Annie were the parents of only one child.  Their son, George Prentice Thomas, Jr., was born on October 13, 1914 in Cadiz, Kentucky. George Jr. also was active in public service in Trigg County.  He died on September 25, 1978 and was single.

G. P. died on May 29, 1943 at the age of 74 at his home in Cadiz after an illness of several months.  He was buried in the East End Cemetery in Cadiz.  His wife, Annie, died on August 6, 1951 in Christian County, Kentucky and was buried next to him.

Tombstone of George Prentice Thomas

LINEAGE:  (George Prentice Thomas was the son of Allison W. and Catherine Elizabeth Carloss Thomas and grandson of Perry and Elizabeth Josephine Bridges Thomas. Perry was the third child of James and Mollie Standley Thomas.  Elizabeth was the sixth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)