Page 10 - 1955

Mr. and Airs. Thomas in their living room
at 'Moses Brown

Furthermore, Mr. Thomas began a
program of gradual changes to make the
best and fullest possible use of the school
properties for the boys. Tennis courts,
three new playing fields, an attractive
Lower School gymnasium, a music room,
a modern infirmary, and many houses for
married masters were only a small part of
the program.
In 1946 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas again
heeded the call of the American Friends
Service Committee and took a year’s
leave of absence from Moses Brown to
head a mission of relief work in Hungary.

Under the personal supervision of the mission, sional associations, the School has maintained its high
the work extended over a wide area and benefitted academic standing. Mr. Thomas’ active part in such
thousands. It consisted in providing food for a sup­ local organizations as the Barnard Club, the R. I.
plementary meal every day to five thousand ap­ Secondary School Principals’ Association, the Inde­
prentices and medical students, and to 5,000 children pendent Schools Association of R. I., of which he
was an organizer and first president, and the R. I.
in each of two areas in the country. Society for Mental Hygiene has identified the School
In addition, clothing was distributed to appren­
tices, teachers, and students, especially to refugee closely with the educational affairs of city and state,
students. Substantial distributions of food and cloth­ as his work with the Quaker Headmasters and Head­
ing were also made to institutions, chiefly for chil­ masters Association has given it prominence out­
dren and old people. Altogether, hundreds of tons of side the state. In recognition of these services he was
food and clothing, all supplied by the Friends Serv­ elected president of several of these groups, granted
ice Committee, were distributed by the mission. an honorary Sc. D. by the R. I. College of Pharmacy
and Allied Sciences, and in 1935 was made a life
During the last six months of his work, Mr.
Thomas was also chairman of the Council of Foreign trustee of Brown University.
Relief Agencies, which met bi-weekly to discuss Mr. Thomas’ contributions to Moses Brown School
problems of relief and establish understanding with
governmental offices. are immeasurable. The feeling that many of us have
concerning him was expressed by E. Gardner Jacobs,
On July 2, 1947, when Mr. and Mrs. Thomas
completed their work, they were decorated by the Vice-President of Bryant College, when he said, "I
have enjoyed his outlook on many matters, particu­
Hungarian government. The Prime Minister con­ larly his sympathetic and sincere interest in young
ferred upon Mr. Thomas a Cross of the Order of people, their aims and ambitions. It is a great satis­
Merit with a citation. Mrs. Thomas, who gave much faction to me as an alumnus to have him so highly
personal assistance to individuals, was awarded the regarded in civic and communal affairs as well as in
Golden Cross of the Order. educational circles. His wide scope of interests adds
Mr. Thomas has persistently strived to keep him­
self and the entire staff of Moses Brown abreast luster to Moses Brown and broadens the horizon of
the young men who are privileged to study under
of the times. Through his own membership in pro­ the guidance of Dr. L. Ralston Thomas.”
fessional groups and his encouragement of teachers We shall miss him.
to do advanced study, visit schools, and join profes-

Views of the Thomas home on
the Cape

‘ .. r