Thomas grew up in Fort Collins, the son of John S. (a science teacher at FCHS) and Ellen Congdon. He was the youngest of 9 children and graduated high school in 1942. Three of his older brothers also served in the military during WWII. Thomas served as a Private 1st class in Army 302D Infantry (General Patton's Third Army) and was killed in action March 5, 1945 near Serig Germany. He is buried in the American Soldiers Cemetery in Luxembourg.