THOMAS: Plans to do some traveling once he retires

others ran a construction company that worked nationwide. The company was a major contractor at the Bogalusa papermill. Thomas sold his ownership in the company when he was elected Washington Parish President.

Thomas said one of the biggest accomplishments since he has been Parish President is the blacktopping of many Parish roads. “Our infrastructure is 99 percent better now for Parish roads and improving,” Thomas said.

Thomas said that some of the roads in Bogalusa were blacktopped by the Parish road crew. We are fortunate to have such talented and skilled crews in our workforce, because we have been able to perform asphalt overlay and drainage work for just about every municipality in our Parish as well as our component units such as the library, hospitals, health units, Sheriff’s office and schools.

Thomas said they have done quite a bit of construction work and that the Parish now has an adequate fleet of trucks to handle the jobs. “We can put out 400 tons of asphalt in a day without a problem,” Thomas said, “because we own our own machinery.” He said the Parish Government also constructed a bridge in St. Tammany Parish on King’s Bridge Road and also in Bogalusa on Davenport Avenue using the Parish owned equipment and expertise. Even the State has called on us for assistance for improvements in the Bogue Chitto State Park.

Also, he is very proud of being able to keep and operate the Choctaw Road Landfill and save money for Bogalusa in the final agreement that was agreed upon by both the City of Bogalusa and the Parish Government. He spoke proudly of the money the Parish has saved by way of the many grants the Parish has successfully secured to rebuild roads, the fleet maintenance shop, equipment yards, refurbish the courthouse, the jail and rebuild sidewalks in the Town of Franklinton.

Another thing Thomas said he is proud of is the Parish has no blemishes on the administration and our financial audits have been without any major findings. “We have never had any kind of improprieties in 15 years, 16 soon,” Thomas said. “That’s one thing I’m very proud of.”

Thomas has worked with four mayors in both Franklinton and Bogalusa and said he has always had good relationships with the all the mayors during his tenure in office.

Once he does retire, Thomas said that he plans on traveling. He said he and his wife, Linda, are looking at a place in Colorado they try to go to once a year and he said they have a fishing camp with his brothers in West Pearl they visit often.

Thomas said he will see if he is needed for future advice for the new President next year and will let him or her know of his mistakes so they may learn from them.

“I’m excited about the future of Washington Parish,” Thomas said. Thomas spoke highly of the people he has worked with from his administrative staff to the road crew and in between. “We’re fortunate in the Washington Parish Government to have a strong administrative staff. They’ve served me well and do a wonderful job. It takes a team and I’ve had great people to work with in my office and with the Washington Parish Councils who have been elected during my terms.”

Thomas was born in Bogalusa and graduated from Thomas High School in 1972. Thomas combined with Pine later. In high school, Thomas played football and basketball. In football, he was a running back, kicker, punter, kickoff returner and backup quarterback.

Thomas and his wife Linda Forbes Thomas have been married for 51 years. They have two children, Jennifer Thomas and Rick Thomas, and six grandchildren, Cooper Thomas, Audrey Thomas, Camden Thomas, Emory Kate Thomas, Abbigale Thomas and Carson Thomas.