Dr. Herman P. Thomas
Professor of Economics, 1927-1966
Acting Dean, School of Business Administration, 1957-1959
Dr. Thomas served for 45 years on the faculty, teaching economics. He was department chairman for many years. Highly respected by his students and colleagues, he had a reputation as a demanding but eminently fair teacher. He was an active Baptist layman and taught an economics course at the Medical College of Virginia for 28 years.
On April 15, 1993, Dr. Thomas was added to the University of Richmond Trustees' Honor Roll of Distinguished Faculty, Administrators and Staff. The following remarks were made on that occasion by Dr. Fred Anderson of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society:
Herman Thomas came from far-away Wise County to the Holy City of Richmond, and his classmates gave this member of the class of 1917 a nickname--Tommy. In the friendly banter peculiar to classmates they inferred that he would take his lady friends to Forest Hill Park for romancing but spend his time talking Latin. But in the uncanny ability to size one up, they also wrote in the yearbook that he would succeed: "We have seen and known him enough in classroom and on the campus to come to the conclusion that he is a character well worth emulating." And succeed he did by spending 45 years shaping young business leaders. He taught his faith by example. And among the many who recall his gentle influence is Robert Jepson who was among the student founders of the Thomas Society. In the decisive way in which teachers influence students, and later, students appreciate teachers, one must wonder if there would have been a Robert Jepson without a Herman Thomas.