Bio: Less Emmett Thomas, Caddo & Union Parish La Source: Chronicles of Shreveport and Caddo Parish, Maude Hearn O'Pry, 1928, Submitted by: Kay Thompson Brown ********************************************************** ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ************ LEE EMMETT THOMAS LEE EMMETT THOMAS was born on September 23, 1866, at Marion, Union Parish, Louisiana, and was educated At Howard College, Marion, Alabama, from which he received his A. B. Degree in 1885. He then attended Eastman Commercial College at Poughkeepsie, New York, from which be graduated with a grade rating 100 per cent, completing the course in fourteen weeks. He then kept books for his father, who was in the mercantile business, for two year's and later attended the University of Virginia, where be studied law and graduated with B. L. Degree in 1889. He began the practice of law at Farmerville, Union Parish, Louisiana, where be resided until 1896, when be removed to the City of Shreveport and continued the practice of law until 1903 when he was appointed State Bank Commissioner by Governor Heard. After filling this position for some four years he organized the Continental bank and Trust Company, which began business August 20, 1906, and the continued as its president until 1917, when he resigned to accept appointment as Chairman of the Board of State Affairs and resided in Baton Rouge some three years. In 1915 he was elected President of the Chamber of Commerce of the City of Shreveport and was also member of the Legislature from Caddo Parish for eight years, from 1908 to 1916, four years of which he served as Speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1919 he was again appointed State Bank Commissioner and served untit November, 1922, resigning when he was elected Mayor of the City of Shreveport by a large majority and which position he holds at the present time. From 1916 to 1920 he was Chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee and at present is the Democratic National Committeeman for the State of Louisiana. Mayor Thomas is a member of the First Baptist Church of Shreveport and is also active in fraternal organizations in the State of Louisiana. In 1898 he was elected Grand Chancellor of the Grand Lodge Knights of Pythias and in 1907 he was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge F. & A. M. and was also elected Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter R. A. M. and in 1910 was elected Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery K. T. and Grand Patron 0. E. S. He is a Thirty-Third Degree Mason and is at present Potentate of El Karubali Temple of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Thomas was also influential in securing the location of the first unit of the Shriners Hospital for crippled children in the City of Shreveport in 1921, and is likewise Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Masonic Orphans Home for the Grand Lodge, which Home has just been constructed at Alexandria, La., at a cost of $250,000.00 He is also President of the Masonic Building Company which erected the Temple on the corner of Market and Travis streets in the City of Shreveport. Mr. Thomas' work as Mayor of the City of Shreveport has been very progressive and the City has made wonderful progress during his administration. Some of the large propositions that have been put over consist in the construction of the Cross Lake Water Reservoir to furnish the City of Shreveport an adequate supply of good water and the building of the dyke on Red River to protect the property of the citizens, the paving of more than 30 mues of streets, the purchasing and opening up of seven parks and play grounds and the establishment of a Recreation Department for the City and many other improvements of more or less importance. Mr. Thomas married Miss Florence Smith at Farmersville. La., a short time before he removed to the City of Shreveport in 1896. Equipped with great natural ability, strengthened hy education and experience both deep and wide, Mr. Thomas is one of the most forceful men and brilliant orators of the Creat Southwest. -R. C-. Pleasant.