Recognizing Omaha Icon and Community Leader Ruth Patrick Thomas During Women's History Month

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Women's History Month, to recognize and honor the late Mrs. Ruth Patrick Thomas, an Omaha icon and pioneer for the North Omaha community. Living a wonderful and blessed 105 years, Mrs. Thomas's life was marked by service and love for all, touching the hearts of many, in each of the various roles she maintained.

Graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1943, Mrs. Thomas wed Mr. Francis Thomas the same year and joined him in caring for the home and family business, the Thomas Funeral Home. Active in the community, she also devoted her efforts to the League of Women Voters for nearly 2 decades, directed the YWCA, and focused on cultivating kinship within her neighborhoods.

Beyond her service to others, Mrs. Thomas championed many milestones, such as being one of the first board members to vote in favor of desegregating Omaha Public Schools, first of three women at Zion Baptist Church to be appointed to deaconess, and in 1954, enrolling and graduating from the College of Mortuary Science in St. Louis as the only female and African American person in her class.

Her lifetime of accomplishment has been recognized by the NAACP with the NAACP Freedom Fighter's Award and with the Diamond Award bestowed by the Delta Epsilon Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., for over 75 years of service.

Mr. Speaker, I offer my deepest condolences to the family and North Omaha friends of Mrs. Thomas on her passing, and I stand with pride to have had such a wholesome and selfless person be a part of developing my community.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source