Cordie Gilbert Thomas -- Miller and Restaurant Operator

 

                                        Cordie and Mina Thomas

Cordie Gilbert Thomas was born on August 28, 1903 in Trigg County, Kentucky, the second of three children born to Stanley Dyer Thomas and Willie Hite Thomas.  His two brothers were Jesse L. Thomas, born in 1900 and Hulan Henry Thomas, born in 1908. Stanley and Willie were both natives of Trigg County and Stanley was a farmer.

Cordie grew up in Trigg County and the 8th grade was the highest grade that he completed.  On September 19, 1925, he married Mina Louise Wallis.  Mina was born on December 26, 1905 in Trigg County, the daughter of Charles Addison Wallis and Lou Annie Wallace Wallis. Charles worked as a flour and grist miller.

The newly married couple moved in with the bride’s family in Cadiz and he joined his father-in-law and became a miller at the Cadiz Milling Company, where he worked for 32 years until his retirement.  Mina became a night telephone operator with the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company in Cadiz.  She worked for the company for 25 years as a telephone operator until her retirement in December 1960.

Cordie and Mina were involved in several civic and community business activities in addition to their regular jobs.  Cordie was a member of the first Water-and Sewer Commission for the City of Cadiz.  From 1938 to 1941, the Thomases managed the American Legion Club House which at that time was a very popular hangout place for teenagers and all ages. The club house unfortunately burned on December 14, 1941.  The couple was also the first managers of the American Legion Swimming Pool located on Swimming Pool Hill in Cadiz.

For many years Cordie and Mina wanted to have their own a restaurant.   They had some restaurant experience when they operated the Ben Wood Snack Bar in downtown Cadiz.  In 1959, their home in West Cadiz was taken by the government for Lake Barkley.  This enabled them to purchase the former Judge Hooks home in East Cadiz which they remodeled into a restaurant.  Mina’s love for decorative roosters caused them to name their new venture “Thomas Roost” which opened in 1960.  The restaurant became one of the most popular places to eat in Cadiz and hosted many showers, monthly meetings and family gathering during the years that the Thomases were the proprietors of the business. Cordie and Mina celebrated their final retirement when they closed the restaurant in 1968.

Cordie and Mina were the parents of one child, a daughter, Lillie Frances Thomas DeName, who was born in 1927 and married Johnny DeName.

Cordie died on April 12, 1973 in Cadiz at the age of 69 following a lengthy illness.  He was buried in the East End Cemetery in Cadiz.  Mina died on January 11, 2000 in Cadiz at the age of 94.  She was buried in the East End Cemetery next to her husband.

Cordie and Mina

 

Thomas Roost Restaurant

 

Cordie and Mina Tombstone

LINEAGE:  (Cordie Gilbert Thomas was the son of Stanley Dyer and Willie Hite Thomas and grandson of William Henry and Sidney Dyer Thomas.  William Henry was the third child 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.)