Fletcher Stewart Thomas
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Tommy Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Ontario MPP | |
| In office June 4, 1945 – November 9, 1957 | |
| Preceded by | Mitchell Hepburn |
| Succeeded by | Ron McNeil |
| Constituency | Elgin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 7, 1897 Toronto Township, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | November 9, 1957 (aged 60) St Thomas, Ontario, Canada |
| Resting place | Elmdale Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Party | Progressive Conservative |
| Spouse | Myrtle Symes |
| Children | Patricia, Carolyn, Shirley and Robert |
| Alma mater | Ontario Agricultural College |
| Occupation | Agricultural agent |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Canadian |
| Branch/service | Canadian Field Artillery |
| Years of service | 1916–1919 |
| Rank | Gunner |
| Unit | 56th Battery |
| Battles/wars | World War I, North Russia Intervention |
Fletcher Stewart Pickering "Tommy" Thomas (June 7, 1897 – November 9, 1957) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1945 to 1957 who represented the central Ontario riding of Elgin. He served as a cabinet minister under Leslie Frost, holding two successive positions between 1951 and 1956.
Born in 1897 in Toronto Township, Ontario to Joseph P. Thomas and Maggie Stewart,[1] Thomas and his mother moved to Streetsville nine years later following the death of his father.[2]
In 1915, he enrolled at the Ontario Agricultural College,[2] but put his studies on hold in 1916 to enlist as a gunner in the Canadian Field Artillery.[3] He served in France and was also one of the "Polar Bears" in the North Russia Intervention before being discharged in 1919.[4][5]
Returning to OAC, he graduated in 1922 and became an agricultural agent working in Grey County, Port Arthur and Elgin County (serving in the last area for 19 years).[2] He became a farmer in Elgin County in 1935, specializing in tobacco and apples.[4] In 1940, he was instrumental in organizing the first International Plowing Match to be held there.[2][6]
He died in 1957. He is buried in Elmdale Memorial Park Cemetery.[7]