Background
Thomas, Richard Van was born on October 11, 1932 in Superior, Wyoming, United States. Son of John W. and Gertrude (McCloskey) Thomas.
Thomas, Richard Van was born on October 11, 1932 in Superior, Wyoming, United States. Son of John W. and Gertrude (McCloskey) Thomas.
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with honors, University Wyoming, 1954. Bachelor of Laws with honors, University Wyoming, 1956. Master of Laws, New York University, 1961.
Law clerk to judge The United States of America Court Appeals (10th Circuit), Cheyenne, 1960-1963. Associate firm Hirst & Applegate, 1963-1964. Partner firm Hirst, Applegate & Thomas, 1964-1969.
United States attorney District Wyoming, 1969-1974. Justice Wyoming Supreme Court, 1974—2000, chief justice, 1985-1986.
President Laramie County United Way, 1972, trustee, 1973-1974, chairman admissions and allocations committee, 1968-1969, chairman executive committee, 1973, chairman combined federal campaign, 1974. Board directors Goodwill Industries Wyoming, Inc., 1974-1977. Executive committee Cheyenne Crusade for Christ, 1974.
Vice president, executive committee Wyoming Billy Graham Crusade, 1987. Board directors Cheyenne Youth for Christ, 1978-1981. Chancellor Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming, since 1972, lay deputy general convention, since 1973, chairman search evaluation nomination committee, 1976-1977, lay reader, since 1969.
Board directors Community Action of Laramie County, 1977-1982. Chairman Cheyenne district Boy Scouts American, 1977-1978, member national council, 1982-1984, member Longs Peak council, since 1977, vice president district operations, vice president membership relationships, 1979-1981, president, 1981-1983. Member North Center Region Executive Board, since 1986, president Old West Trails Area, since 1988.
Chairman Laramie County Health Planning Committee, 1980-1984. Served with Judge Advocate General Corps United States Air Force, 1957-1960. Member American, Laramie County bar associations, Wyoming State Bar, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Alpha Delta, Omicron Delta Kappa, Sigma Nu.
Clubs: Kiwanis (Cheyenne) (program committee 1969-1970, director 1970-1972, chairman key club committee 1973-1976, distinguished president 1980-1981), Masons (Cheyenne) (33 degree, past master). Shriners; National Sojourners (Cheyenne).
Married Lesley Arlene Ekman, June 23, 1956. Children: Tara Lynn, Richard Ross, Laura Lee, Sidney Marie.