WILLIAM THOMAS Jr.

William R. Thomas, Jr.  
Died on July 2, 2018 of natural causes. Bill Thomas was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on January 28, 1929. He was an Eagle Scout. He graduated Shortridge High School in June of 1947. While in high school, he earned membership in the National Honor Society, was named to the Indianapolis All-City and All-County Football Teams and was honored as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) on the Shortridge team. He was elected president of the senior class. Immediately following graduation from high school, he received a Congressional appointment to the United States Naval Academy. He graduated from the Academy in the Class of 1951; he was commissioned in the United States Air Force, earned his wings as a fighter pilot and was assigned to an RAF base at Woodbridge, England. He flew tactical missions extensively throughout the UK, Europe and North Africa. After completion of his service in 1956, he returned to Indianapolis and began a career in mortgage-related businesses. He was employed by a savings and loan association for ten years and was later elected vice president at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis. Subsequently, he joined the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) as one of its first employees after the corporation was created by Congress in 1970. He established one of its first regional offices in Indianapolis, and later headed two other regional offices in Cincinnati and Dallas. In 1976, he was moved to Washington, DC as Freddie Mac's Executive Vice-President of Operations. He retired from Freddie Mac in 1988. Later that year, he was appointed President of a newly-created national mortgage guaranty insurance company, Policyholders Benefit Corporation (PBC), also based in Washington, DC. He retired from PBC in 2001. Bill and his wife, Pat, spent their retirement years in Annapolis, Maryland and Macro Island, Florida. He was elected a Trustee of the United States Naval Academy Foundation in 2004, and proudly served as Trustee Emeritus until his death. Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Patricia; son, Daniel of Norwood, Ohio; daughter, Lynn Dowdle of Dallas, Texas; daughter, Karen Medley of Ashburn, Virginia; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. As his final resting place, Bill's ashes are to be inurned at the Columbarium at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. A service will take place at a later date. The family has requested in lieu of flowers that any memorial offerings be directed to the United States Naval Academy Foundation, Fund for Athletic Excellence, 25 Maryland Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, or by calling that office at 410-295-4095.