Martin C. Thomas

THOMAS, Martin C. "Marty" - Of Grand Blanc, age 63, passed from this life into the presence of the Lord on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, with his wife, Mary, by his side at Avalon Hospice. Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Reverend Harold K. Polk, Jr. officiating. Burial in Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation 12-7 p.m. Monday and 1 p.m. Tuesday until the time of the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Prevent Cancer Foundation, 1600 Duke Street, Suite 500, Alexandria, VA 22314. Marty was born on September 11, 1947 in Cleveland, OH. He graduated from Shaker Heights High School, where he shared the honor, with his team, as State Basketball Champions. He attended Ohio State University and graduated from Northwood University with a BA in Business Administration. Marty gained thirty years of Business and Managerial experience concentrated in the fields of Information Technology and Personnel Labor. Starting in 1966, Marty held positions as Tab Operator, Data Control Technician, Computer Operator, and Programmer for Clevite Corporation in Cleveland, OH. In 1968, Marty became a Senior Programmer for Leaseway Transportation Corporation in Cleveland, OH. Marty was one of three analysts who designed and implemented the first automated on-line freight bill system between a major transportation company and General Motors Logistics. He trained management in the use of this system at numerous transportation terminal locations on the east coast. This led to the creation of a Manager Trainee position at the Anchor Motor Freight (Subsidiary of Leaseway) terminal in Terrytown, NY. In 1970, Marty moved to Terrytown, NY and was trained in all aspects of the transportation business to become a Terminal Manager. In 1974, Marty was named Director of Data Processing for Anchor Motor Freight in Lansing, MI. After six months, he was promoted to Operations Superintendent and Assistant Personnel Director. In 1975, Marty was promoted to Terminal Manager for Anchor Motor Freight in Chicago, IL. This assignment made him the first black and youngest (27 year old) Terminal Manager for a major transportation company to date, in the transportation industry. Marty also represented the corporation on the Wisconsin Joint Arbitration Committee. Marty returned to the Technology field in 1977, as Manager of Data Processing for Flint Community Schools. After reorganizing the department several times, the department migrated to its current Management Information Systems designation. Marty chaired a Millage Committee that successfully passed the first (K-12) technology millage in the State of Michigan. As a member of the Genesee County Superintendents Committee for Information Processing, Marty was instrumental in creating Gen Net. Marty was also a founding member of New Paths, Inc. He also served (Chairman) on the Information Technology Committee for Middle Schools, the Curriculum Advisory Board-Detroit College of Business, Telecommunications Advisory Commission-City of Flint, Committee for Information Processing-Genesee County, Gen Net Agreements and Policies Committee-Genesee County, and Rotary International. Marty joined Convergent Technology Partners as a partner in 2005. Since that time the company has grown and flourished. Marty was a member of the Flint Golf Club and especially loved to golf in the "toss". He also enjoyed playing the drums and singing. While shy and unassuming, Marty was dynamic and charismatic. He was an inspiration to all who knew him. Marty leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 24 years, Mary; son, Gregory (Dana) Panos of Riverside, CA; daughters, Michelle (Al) Norvell of Euclid, OH and Amanda Panos (friend, Eric Davidek) of Traverse City, MI; granddaughters, Haley, Rachel and Brianna; brother, Jerome Thomas of Cleveland, OH; nephew, Melvin Jiles and niece, Selena Jiles of Kent, WA; and many other beloved relatives and friends. Marty was preceded in death by his parents, William and Ruby Thomas and sister, Debbie Jiles. Special appreciation to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, NY, Genesys Hospital and Avalon Hospice. Your condolences may be shared with the family at swartzfuneralhomeinc.com.