Vincent Thomas
| Vincent Thomas | |
|---|---|
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State Assemblyman, 68th District San Pedro, California |
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In office January 1941 – January 1975 |
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| Preceded by | Fred Reaves |
| Succeeded by | Walter M. Ingalls |
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State Assemblyman, 52nd District San Pedro, California |
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In office January 1975 – January 1979 |
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| Preceded by | Floyd L. Wakefield |
| Succeeded by | Gerald N. Felando |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 16, 1907 Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | January 1980 (aged 72) San Pedro, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Politician |
Vincent Tomasevich-Thomas (April 16, 1907- January 1980) was a Democratic Party politician from California who represented San Pedro's 68th and 52nd Districts in the California Assembly from 1941-79.
Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, Thomas was the third of eight children of Croatian immigrants who came to America in 1903. His family moved from Mississippi to Oakland, California in 1917, and then to San Pedro in 1919. In 1928, he graduated from San Pedro High School.
He received a Bachelor Degree from the University of Santa Clara in 1932 and attended the University of Santa Clara and Loyola Law Schools from 1932 to 1936. He worked as a minor sports coach and physical education instructor while in college. He also played football for Santa Clara.
After graduating law school, Thomas did not open his own practice, but found a job in a fish processing factory that was owned by Martin J. Bogdanovich, a fellow Croatian from the Island of Vis. While with the factory, Thomas was encouraged to engage himself in politics.
Thomas entered politics and was successful in his first run for office in 1940, resoundingly defeating Charles M. Smith to become the State Assemblyman for the 68th District representing San Pedro.
He also served as Chairman of the Committee on Intergovernmental Relations. Thomas had the longest record of service in the Assembly and was known affectionately as "Dean of the Assembly". In 1974, his district was redrawn as the 52nd Assembly District. Ultimately, he served in the Assembly for 19 consecutive terms, until his first defeat in a re-election bid by Republican candidate Gerald N. Felando in 1978.
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