Richard G. Thomas Jr.

Former senior Lab physicist Richard G. Thomas Jr. of Houston died Dec. 15. He was 86.

A graduate of Phyllis Wheatley High School, he received a bachelor’s degree from Hampton Institute, a master’s degree from Columbia University, a Ph.D. from the University of California, and completed postdoctoral studies at the University of Houston.

Thomas was a professor in the department of physics, College of Arts and Sciences at Prairie View A&M University; he had a long and productive career from 1950-1954, and 1968-2003 when he retired.

His career experience included work at the MIT Radiation Laboratory Radar Research, U. S. Merchant Marine, U. S. Coast Guard, General Electric Company and LLNL. He was a life member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Prairie View tennis coach and a member of the Optimist Club.

Services are scheduled for today (Dec. 18) at Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Tex.