Joab Thomas
Encyclopedia
Joab Langston Thomas was born on February 14, 1933 in Holt
, Alabama
. Thomas grew up in Russellville, Alabama
. His father was the town's superintendent of education, his mother was a music teacher. Thomas credits them, along with his brother, two sisters and his extended family, for his strong sense of character.
He was educated at Harvard University
where he earned three degrees in biological sciences with a concentration in botany.
He served as a professor of biology at the University of Alabama
from 1966 until his appointment as vice president for student affairs in 1969.
Thomas took the position of chancellor at North Carolina State University
in 1975; the school's ninth chief executive. While in office, enrollment at the university surpassed 20,000 for the first time. He also oversaw the establishment of the School of Veterinary Medicine. Thomas resigned as chancellor in 1981.
In 1981 Thomas returned to the University of Alabama to serve as the school's president, an office he held until 1988. The most notable hire of his presidency at Alabama was that of Ray Perkins to succeed Bear Bryant
as the school's football coach in December 1982. Bryant died of a heart attack four weeks after coaching his final game on January 26, 1983. Thomas later hired Bill Curry
to succeed Perkins in 1987 when Perkins left to become coach of the National Football League
's Tampa Bay Buccaneers
.
He also served as president of Pennsylvania State University
from 1990-1995. The Thomas Building on Penn State's University Park campus is named in his honor, and houses parts of the Eberly College of Science, including the Department of Statistics.http://www.campusmaps.psu.edu/buildings/thomas.shtml
Thomas was a member of the academic honor societies Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi
.
Holt, Alabama
Holt is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 4,103. It is part of the Tuscaloosa, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. Thomas grew up in Russellville, Alabama
Russellville, Alabama
Russellville is a city in Franklin County in the U.S. state of Alabama. At the 2000 census, the population of the city was 8,971. The city is the county seat of Franklin County.-History:...
. His father was the town's superintendent of education, his mother was a music teacher. Thomas credits them, along with his brother, two sisters and his extended family, for his strong sense of character.
He was educated at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
where he earned three degrees in biological sciences with a concentration in botany.
He served as a professor of biology at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
from 1966 until his appointment as vice president for student affairs in 1969.
Thomas took the position of chancellor at North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
in 1975; the school's ninth chief executive. While in office, enrollment at the university surpassed 20,000 for the first time. He also oversaw the establishment of the School of Veterinary Medicine. Thomas resigned as chancellor in 1981.
In 1981 Thomas returned to the University of Alabama to serve as the school's president, an office he held until 1988. The most notable hire of his presidency at Alabama was that of Ray Perkins to succeed Bear Bryant
Bear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
as the school's football coach in December 1982. Bryant died of a heart attack four weeks after coaching his final game on January 26, 1983. Thomas later hired Bill Curry
Bill Curry
William Alexander "Bill" Curry is an American football coach and former player. He is the current head coach at Georgia State University, which began competing in college football in 2010...
to succeed Perkins in 1987 when Perkins left to become coach of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
.
He also served as president of Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
from 1990-1995. The Thomas Building on Penn State's University Park campus is named in his honor, and houses parts of the Eberly College of Science, including the Department of Statistics.http://www.campusmaps.psu.edu/buildings/thomas.shtml
Thomas was a member of the academic honor societies Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society is a non-profit honor society which was founded in 1886 at Cornell University by a junior faculty member and a handful of graduate students. Members elect others on the basis of their research achievements or potential...
.
External links
- http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1990/08/08-18-90cm/08-18-90cm-22.asp