Bruce Thomas -- Banker

 

Bruce Thomas

Bruce Thomas was born on August 7, 1937 in Detroit, Michigan. He was one of a set of triplets born to Hubert Jackson “Tige” Thomas and Vada Helena Wallace Thomas.  Hubert operated an automobile body shop and was a native of Trigg County.  Vada was a native of Dover, Tennessee. Bruce was a descendant of Starkie Thomas.

Bruce’s siblings were Carolyn Sue Thomas, born in 1934 and died at the age of 1 day; Billie Joe Thomas, born in 1935 and married Carolyn Raquel Williams; fellow triplets, Andrew Thomas, born in 1937 and married Frances Carol Bridges; Charles Thomas, born in 1937 and married Martha Ann Myers and later married Clara Ellen McKinney; and Dennis Glyn Thomas, born in 1944 and married Linda Dale Hancock.

Bruce spent his first nine years growing up in Detroit, but moved to Trigg County, Kentucky in 1946, He enrolled in Trigg County High School and graduated with the class of 1956 and went on to attend Murray State University until he and his triplet brothers dropped out of school to join the military.  

Bruce along with his brothers Andrew and Charles enlisted in the U.S Army together on February 18, 1959. They received their basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky and then were assigned to a unit at Fairbanks, Alaska.  They were exceptionally recognized as the only set of triplets to be serving together in the army at that time.  The triplets were discharged in February of 1961.  Bruce was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College and continued to serve in the Kentucky National Guard. He became a Lieutenant Colonel and retired from his military service on his 60th birthday.

On June 12, 1960, Bruce married Joyce Ann P’Pool.  Joyce was born on December 8, 1941 in Cobb, Kentucky and was the daughter of Harry Lewis P’Pool and Hazel Ellen Morris P’Pool.  Harry was a farmer and he and Hazel were both natives of Trigg County.

In 1962 Bruce started his career with Hopkinsville Federal Savings Bank. Over the years he worked in both Hopkinsville and Murray branches of the bank.  While working at the bank, Bruce returned to obtain his college degree at Murray State where he graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in Business.  He retired as President and CEO of Hopkinsville Federal after serving 38 years with the company.

Bruce and Joyce were the parents of three children, Krista Ann Thomas, born in 1961 and married Jason Rex Haymes; Kelly Diane Thomas, born in 1965 and married Robert Flint Wesley; and Russell Bruce Thomas, born in 1974 and married Michele Kristine Speca.

Bruce died on August 14, 2022 at the age of 85 at his home in Cadiz.  He was buried in the Lucien Thomas Family cemetery in Trigg County.

Bruce

 

Bruce tombstone

LINEAGE: (Bruce Thomas was the son of Hubert Jackson and Vada Helena Wallace Thomas. Hubert was the second child of Lucian M. and Inez B. Crews Thomas.  Lucian was the fourth child of Jonathan Starkie and Julia Dyer Thomas.  Jonathan was the third child of William Bridges and Nancy Jane Rogers Thomas.  William was the first child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)