Michael Thomas
May 10, 1937 — November 23, 2018
Dr. Michael Edward Thomas of Greensboro, Georgia passed away Friday evening, November 23, 2018, while living in Stockbridge, Georgia. Dr. Thomas is the husband of Patricia Ann Thomas, who survives him. He was born on May 10, 1937 in Monahans, Texas, which made him forever a Texan. He is the only son of the late Marvin Ross and Mattie Kathryne Thomas, formerly of Devine, Texas.
Dr. Thomas graduated from the University of Texas with bachelors and masters degrees in chemical engineering in 1962. He received his PhD degree in Operations Research from Johns Hopkins University in 1965. Upon graduation, he joined the faculty of the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Florida, where he rose to become department chair. He left in 1978 to become chair of the School of Industrial & Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech, where he rose again to serve as provost from 1996-2002. Dr. Thomas was a masterful administrator and a powerful promoter for Georgia Tech.
More than his professional accomplishments, however, Mike was proud of his family of five children, twenty-two grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. He enjoyed hosting them at his home on Lake Oconee and especially pulling them around on his boat named "Grandkid Bait."
Mike was an avid golfer, having won in his prime the men’s club championship at the Gainesville Golf and Country Club in Florida. He was also a huge college football fan, especially of his beloved Texas Longhorns. Only days before he died, he could still be heard singing the Texas fight song and raising his fingers in the traditional "Hook ‘em Horns" salute.
In addition to his wife Patricia, Dr. Thomas is survived by Michelle Barber of Keller, Texas, Teresa Genoway of Trabuco Canyon, California, Rebecca Maclean of Trabuco Canyon, California, Kevin Gue of Louisville, Kentucky, and Kathleen Pappa of Locust Grove, Georgia.
He was the most humble, optimistic, and loving man you’d ever want to meet.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00am on Monday, December 3 at Stauffer Funeral Home in Frederick, Maryland. Interment will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frederick
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Michael Thomas Scholarship Fund at Georgia Tech (please contact Nancy Sandlin at 1-404-385-7458 for details) or Open Doors, one of Mike’s favorite ministries.