Bill Thomas (Alaska politician)
| Bill Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 5th district |
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In office January 10, 2005 – January 14, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Albert Kookesh |
| Succeeded by | Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
June 1, 1947 Haines, Territory of Alaska |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Joyce Marie Thomas |
| Children | Rhett, Danny, Gabriel, Cole, Rhiannon |
| Residence | Haines, Alaska |
| Alma mater | University of Alaska |
| Profession | Commercial fisherman |
William A. "Bill" Thomas, Jr. (born June 1, 1947) is a businessman, commercial fisherman, and politician from the U.S. state of Alaska. Thomas served as a Republican member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 5th District, comprising scattered rural and semi-rural communities throughout Southeast Alaska and stretching westward to Prince William Sound, from 2005 to 2013. Thomas served in the majority his entire tenure in the House and held multiple chairmanships. Thomas gained a seat on the powerful House Finance Committee during his second term and would eventually co-chair the committee. Following redistricting, Thomas lost reelection in 2012 by 32 votes to 23-year-old Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a recent Yale University graduate and political newcomer.
William A. Thomas, Jr. was born in Haines, Territory of Alaska on June 1, 1947, and is a lifelong resident of Haines and the surrounding Chilkat Valley. He is descended from the Tlingit Natives of nearby Klukwan village. Speaking before a Native organization in Juneau about his origins, Thomas once explained "And the Thomas? That came from California".
Bill Thomas graduated from Haines High School in 1965. Shortly thereafter, he briefly attended the University of Alaska before joining the U.S. Army, where he served for two years during the Vietnam War.
Bill Thomas began commercial fishing for a living ca. 1970, and has continued in this line of work ever since. He has mostly run gillnets and longlines.
Thomas has also served as chairman and CEO of his village's Native corporate, Klukwan, Inc. This position has led to Thomas serving on the board of directors of a number of the corporation's subsidiaries.
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