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To celebrate the life and service of Rev. Dr. William “Butch” Thomas, Jr. and to extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends on the occasion of his passing, Saturday, November 14, 2020.
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WHEREAS, the members of Columbus City Council extend this resolution of expression in honor of the life and service of Dr. Rev. William Thomas Jr. who peacefully passed away on Saturday, November 14, 2020; and
WHEREAS, William began his earthly pilgrimage on November 8, 1947, in Columbus, Ohio to the union of William Thomas, Sr. and Thelma (Hunt) Thomas; and
WHEREAS, Bill was the eldest child, having two younger sisters: Janice Thomas Parks, who predeceased him, and Dr. Gene Thomas Harris. Bill’s early years were spent on the thriving east side of Columbus, where he attended Garfield Elementary School and Champion Junior High. When the family moved to the northeast side, he attended Linden McKinley High School from which he graduated in 1965. He was a life-long member of the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ; and
WHEREAS, Bill grew up and matured in Christ at Woodland Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. Bill’s love of music was obvious early. At the age of 12, his pastor noticed him playing the piano at church. This was long before Bill had formal lessons; he was using the gift God gave him, playing “by ear” which he perfected in addition to his years of formal training. The church gifted him with a piano, which began his long and storied career as a musician, singer, actor, teacher, and pastor. When the church’s pianist left during Bill’s high school years, he became the choir director, which would now be called the Minister of Music. Having been blessed with a beautiful tenor singing voice, concurrently, he was a participant in the music groups in his high school, which required auditions. In his spare time, to earn extra money as a high school student, he delivered the local newspaper to homes throughout the community where the family lived. After his stint as a “paper boy” he became a page at the local library. In each of these endeavors, Bill endeared himself to his classmates, his teachers, his customers, his neighbors, and his friends with his winning personality and his clear work ethic. Today 50 years after Bill moved from Columbus, there remain individuals who remember him fondly and lovingly in those two roles; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from Linden McKinley, Bill enrolled at The Ohio State University, where he majored in and graduated with a degree in sociology in 1970. During his time at The Ohio State University (OSU), he was one of only a few African American men who sang in the Men’s Glee Club. As well, he had significant roles in several musical productions including the musical version of Hans Christian Anderson’s fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea.” During this time, Bill continued to direct the choirs at church, while also traveling throughout the city and the region with the exclusive singing group, the Michael Frazier Chorale which was founded in 1996. After graduating from OSU, Bill continued his musical endeavors, and worked with the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, teaching low-income individuals how to maintain their homes. While this work was meaningful to the people involved and the community itself, Bill’s desire to be on the “big stage” in New York. In the fall of 1971, Bill quit his job, gave his car to his baby sister, packed his clothes, and left for New York City. Always close to the church, he joined Stuyvesant Heights Christian Church and soon was called to direct the youth and young adult choir. Eventually, Bill became the minister of music while concurrently working on Broadway. He moved to Los Angeles in 1984, where he lived until his transition; and
WHEREAS, Bill’s stage and screen credits are impressive... While in New York, he appeared in the original production of the popular off Broadway production, Godspell, as well as Your Arms Too Short to Box with God and played Jacob in the original Broadway cast of La Cage Aux Folles. He appeared in the Bold and the Beautiful, Mambo Kings, Bruce Almighty, and Christmas with the Kranks. He made commercials including being the principal in two long running commercials for Coast Soap. He played Cool Charles in the comedy, Frank’s Place (which he was nominated for an NAACP Image Award) and he had a lead role in Stephen Bochco’s Cop Rock. His most notable role came in the final season of The Cosby Show where he played Vanessa Huxtable’s fiancé, Denis Brickey; and
WHEREAS, when Bill moved to Los Angeles, he became the organist for 30th Street Christian Church. Subsequently, he joined Church of the Valley (Disciples of Christ)), where he served as Minister of Music and Associate Pastor. In 2009 he was called to pastor, and came to deeply love, the congregation of the Little White Chapel in Burbank, where he served until the time of his transition. Bill earned his Master of Divinity and his Doctor of Ministry at the Claremont School of Theology. While pastoring, he taught a class on worship and the arts at Claremont and he taught a class at UCLA on voice for contemporary musical theatre. His teaching career also included giving private voice and music lessons to countless individuals to whom he became beloved; and
WHEREAS, while both his faith and music were central in his life, his family maintained the starring role. Bill is survived by his spouse and the love of his life for 35 years, Rev. Dr. Michael Kosik, his mother and best friend, Elder Thelma Thomas, his sister Dr. Gene Thomas Harris (Stanley E.), his nephew, Pastor Wade Thomas Harris (Belinda), precocious great nephews and great niece, Nathan Noah, and Naomi Harris, mother-in-law, Peg Kosik, brother-in-law. Tim Kosik, and a host of cousins and close friends. In addition to his sister Janice, Bill was predeceased by his father, William Thomas, Sr. nephew, Wesley Parks, Jr., father-in-law Ken Kosik, maternal grandparents, Elders Sherman and Florine Hunt, paternal grandparents, Jeff and Inez Thomas, and a number of aunts and cousins; now therefore, and
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby celebrate the life and service of Rev. Dr. William Thomas, Jr. and to extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends on the occasion of his passing, November 14, 2020.