Clark County NV Archives Obituaries.....THOMAS, William R. January 21 1920 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nv/nvfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Gerry Perry missgerry@cox.net August 7, 2004, 7:29 pm Las Vegas Age - 1/24/1920 JUDGE THOMAS' DEATH SHOCKS VEGAS PEOPLE PROMINENT PIONEER OF THIS CITY PASSED AWAY IN LOS ANGELES WEDNESDAY EVENING DIED THOMAS; At his residence, 1834 N. New Hampshire, Hollywood, Cal., at 10:25 o'clock Wednesday evening January 21, 1920, William R. THOMAS, aged 64 years, three months and eight days. Funeral services are to be held today under direction of Los Angeles Lodge No. 42, F. & A. M. acting at the request of Vegas Lodge No. 32, of which the deceased was a member. Interment will be in Hollywood Cemetery. ================= The first news of the serious illness of Judge THOMAS was received here Tuesday morning in a message to Dr. MARTIN, the family physician, asking his immediate attendance in Los Angeles. Dr. MARTIN left on No. 1 the same morning, arriving at the bedside of the patient at 9:00 Tuesday evening. Judge THOMAS was still conscious, but in a critical condition from heart failure. The best medical advice in Los Angeles was called in consultation and every effort made to bring relief to the stricken man, but in spite of all aid he sank to his last rest at 10:25, Wednesday evening. William R. THOMAS was born October 13, 1855. He was educated in the public schools, and in 1878, graduated from the Des Moines school of law. He soon removed to Watertown, S.D., where he began the practice of law and became prominent in the activities of the growing city. He was for a time mayor of Watertown and also served as the first state senator from that district in the legislature of the new state of South Dakota. While in Watertown he married Miss Mary PETERSON of Minnesota, who was his faithful helpmate until the time of her death, September 25, 1913. In 1905 Judge THOMAS came to Las Vegas, being here when the townsite was opened and showing his far-sighted vision by purchasing a considerable number of lots which in time became the best business locations in the city and which he still owned at the time of his death. He also early became ide ntified with the First State Bank as a director. He was a charter member of Vegas Lodge No. 32, F. & A.M., and was one of the early Masters of the Lodge. Upon the formation of Clark county in 1909, Judge THOMAS was appointed the first district attorney, a position which he filled with satisfaction to all. Judge THOMAS was a loyal citizen of Las Vegas and to the very hour of his death loved the place. He came here first for his health, suffering from the asthma, and became greatly improved in health. However, since the death of Mrs. THOMAS he seemed to age rapidly and to become less interested in the activities of life. For a change he would frequently spend a few weeks or months in Los Angeles, but he always looked forward with pleasure to his return to "God's Country," as he often called it. His last illness lasted eight days, and was at first laid to acute indigestion. This may have beena contributing cause, but the immediate cause of his death is said to be the failure of his heart, worn and weakened by the trials of a long and busy life. Judge THOMAS leaves surviving him, one daughter, Mrs. Marie ESPESET, who made her home with him, Ralph W. THOMAS, of Los Angeles, and James THOMAS, of Berkeley. Upon receipt of the news of the death of Judge THOMAS, Judge Wm. E. ORR, on Thursday afternoon, convened a special session of the district court as a memorial to the one who had so often and successfully pleaded cases in that place. Judge ORR briefly addressed the members of the bar and the people assembled, stating that it seemed fitting that the court should pay special honor to the memory of Judge THOMAS. Eulogies were then pronounced by his brother attorneys, Richard BUSTEED, A. S. HENDERSON and Harley A. HARMON. The court then appointed as a committe to draw up resolutions of consolence and respect, Leo A. MC NAMEE, C. D. BREEZE and Frank A. STEVENS. Thereupon the court ordered an adjournment until Monday, January 26, at 10 a.m., out of respect to the memory of the deceased. The following is the resolution as submitted by the committe: To the Honorable, the Tenth Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada, in and for the County of Clark: Your committee appointed to express the sentiments of the Bench and Bar of this county in the form of a resolution with reference to the Honorable W. R.THOMAS, deceased, beg leave to submit the following: On the 21st day of January, 1920, at Los Angeles, California, the Honorable William R. THOMAS, a distinguished and honored member of the Bar of this County and State, fell into that final slumber from which no mortal ever awakes. He was born October 13, 1855; educated in the public schools, and graduated from the Des Moines School of Law in 1878. He removed to Watertown, South Dakota, where he commenced practicing law. He remained in Watertown until 1905, when he located at Las Vegas, Nevada. While a resident of Watertown he was elected mayor of that city and was the first state senator from that district, serving four years. He was admitted in practice before the Supreme Court of this state March 14, 1905. He came to this community in its infancy, at a time when there was but little here to encourage a man of his type and ability to remain, and instead of waiting for it to grow of its own potentiality, he made himself one of the exhilerating forces in our civic and business life which has raised our community to the place it holds today. As the first district attorney of this county he set a precedent for efficiency and economy in office which has been the envy of all who have succeeded him. Chary of his friendships, once made, he heeded the admonition of the poet and 'grappled them to his soul with hoops of steel,' and was a most loyal friend and ever ready to meet its calls. He despised shams and disliked shows and ostentation. Doing many acts of kindness and charity, he did them quietly and without noise. His untimely death is a great loss to the local bar and to the community, he did so much to upbuild and a profound grief, to his family, to whom we humbly extend our heartfelt sympathy, and we conclude these few and wholly inadequate expressions of the esteem in which we held him, with the prayer that, he is now enjoying the fruits of his earthly labours in that Eternal Place of Rest and Happiness. Respectfully submitted, LEO A. MC NAMEE C. D. BREEZE F. A. STEVENS committee File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nv/clark/obits/gob340thomas.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/nvfiles/ File size: 7.1 Kb