Thomas was born in New York and resided in Nevada since 1946. Thomas graduated from Rancho High School in 1955. He was a teacher at Western and Las Vegas High Schools. He was a member of the UNLV Athletic Hall of Fame and he served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. Thomas is survived by his wife Sallie Daly;daughter,Jill(Doug)Ressler of Layton, Utah;son james W.(LaRae)Schaefer Jr. of Las Vegas;grandchildren, Melissa(Kyle)Wood,Doughlas Ressler,Chala Tolman, Sheena Sharples,Emily Schaefer; and great-grandson, Noah Wood.
Family requests donations to be made to the UNLV Foundation.