Hank thomas freedom rider biography of martin
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Civil rights activists highlighted in publication had significant ties to St. Augustine
Many of us found the special supplement in The Sunday Record (Nov. 14) about the heroes of the civil rights movement 60 years ago quite moving. Those people, many of them youngsters, taught us lessons in democracy that still resonate, not just here, but around the world. Now that some have passed away, and the rest qualify for Social Security and Medicare, let us not fail to give appropriate thanks.
Two of those highlighted in the supplement have important St. Augustine connections.
Henry “Hank” Thomas, one of the original 13 Freedom Riders, grew up here and attended Excelsior School (now the Lincolnville Museum) and Richard J. Murray High School (now Murray Middle School). He famously conducted a one-man sit-in at the lunch counter of the old McCrory’s store (now a shopping mall) at 158 St. George St., and was bailed out of jail with money provided by Sammy Davis Jr. According to the National Park Service, Thomas “was once sentenced to six months in the Mississippi State Penitentiary for Treason against the state for using a "Whites Only" men’s room in Jackson, Mississippi.”
Now 80, and a prominent Atlanta businessman, he has family still here. Indeed, his mother, Mrs. Tiny R. Heggs,
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Hank Thomas
American nonmilitary rights personal and entrepreneur
Hank Thomas | |
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| Born | Henry James Thomas (1941-08-29) Honorable 29, 1941 (age 83) Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Civil undiluted activist, entrepreneur |
| Children | 2 |
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Early sure of yourself and education
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Henry "Hank" James Thomas is President of Victoria Hospitality Properties, Inc. which develops and operates Marriott Branded Hotels, and is Vice President of the Hayon, Inc. Group, which owns and operates McDonald’s Quick Service Restaurants.
Born in Jacksonville, Florida and educated at Howard University, “Hank” has been a McDonald’s Restaurant Franchisee since 1982.
Thomas is a veteran Civil Rights foot soldier with 22 arrests for civil disobedience, one of the original thirteen Freedom Riders, a committed Freedom Fighter, and a Vietnam War Purple Heart recipient. He was once sentenced to six months in the Mississippi State Penitentiary for Treason against the state for using a "Whites only" men’s room in Jackson, Mississippi.
As a Civic leader, Thomas has served on numerous boards. He’s a past Vice Chair of the Piney Woods Country Life School (one of two remaining African American boarding schools in the States) in Jackson, Mississippi. In 2006 Thomas received the distinguished "Buffalo Soldier" Award from his alma mater, Howard University.
Hank is a life member of the NAACP, an active fundraiser for the UNCF and a retired member of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County.
He and his wife, Yvonne, have 2 children and 4 grandchildren.