Paul Revere Thomas, Jr., born May 6, 1936 in Philadelphia, PA, husband of Joan Thompson Thomas, father of Paul R. Thomas, Ill (Sara) of Basalt, CO, Barbara E. Wiseheart (Stuart) and R. Scott Thomas (Robyn) of St. Louis, MO, grandfather of Matthew Paul R. Thomas IV, Paul and Seth Wiseheart, Brandon, Zachary and Cory Thomas. Grandfather of dear Emily E. Thomas of Basalt, CO, who we sadly lost in 2013.

A veteran of the U. S. Air Force, Paul was a management consultant for 35 years with the IBM Corporation, specializing in business continuity planning. After retirement, he created marketing graphics for 10 years for Six Flags St. Louis. Paul served as Fire Chief for 2 years with the Emergency Services Fire & Rescue in Connecticut and as Emergency Management Director for the City of Kirkwood for 24 years. A volunteer with the Kirkwood Theatre Guild for over 38 years, Paul provided technical help on 151 consecutive productions. Electrical engineering education came from the University of Pennsylvania with graduate studies from Harvard Business School. A Lifetime Certified Emergency Manager he also held a Master Business Continuity Professional certificate. Paul served on the Disaster Recovery Institute International Board for 13 years as V.P. & Treasurer and 3 terms as Chairman of the Board, 5 years on the Kirkwood Theatre Guild Board as Production Manager then V.P. & Treasurer, and several years as Parliamentarian for the International Association of Emergency Managers which actually got its current name from a suggestion by Paul in 1997. He also served as Parliamentarian for the Missouri Emergency Managers Association and American Society of Professional Emergency Planners. A model railroad owner and fan, Paul belonged to the Transport Museum Model Railroaders, the Lionel Railroad Club of St. Louis and the Big Bend Railroad Club, where he served 3 years as President. In 2011 he incorporated the St. Louis Model Railroad Museum (nonprofit) and served as President, campaigning for establishment of a facility focused on model railroading at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation. A Kirkwood resident for 32 years, Paul moved in 2012 to Meramec Bluffs where he served two years as Treasurer of their Town Hall Association. Paul was a devoted husband and father, a beloved “Granddaddy” and a dedicated citizen. Surrounded by family, Paul died within hours of his 81^st birthday on May 5, 2017.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Louis Model Railroad Museum, Inc. (2967 Barrett Station Road, St. Louis, MO 63122).