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Submitted: 3/16/17 • Approved: 3/30/17 • Last Updated: 4/2/17 • R1181047-G0-S3
July 15, 1944 - Oct 19, 2015
Obituary
obits.dignitymemorial.com
Alvin Thomas was welcomed into this life, delivered by midwife in the Looper family home on July 15, 1944 near Toadsuck, Arkansas. He was welcomed home by his loving parents Lenora and Murmon Thomas and his adoring grandparents Arthur and Lucy Looper.
When he was only 2 years old, the family moved to their current home at 1259 Harrison Street, in Conway. That was 69 years ago. Alvin’s early years were formed by his very close knit family. It was here that he formed his faith through service in the church (he played the piano), a fondness for fishing with his father and a sense of adventure and “Cowboy” style from his Uncle Leo Looper. When his Uncle Leo died in a rodeo accident, Alvin was profoundly sad and vowed never to forget him; so Alvin began to take risks and became somewhat of a rebel rouser. He also began to claim his trademark style, which carried him until his death as the “Urban Cowboy.”
Alvin attended school in Conway and graduated Valedictorian at Pine Street High School. He was an outstanding student and athlete. At graduation, he was offered a full academic scholarship to Tuskegee Institute but attended Arkansas A&M (now University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) where he earned a degree in Business Administration. After graduation, he married his first love, Loretta Morris and moved to Denver with their son Herman in 1966. His daughter Lisa was born the following year and she immediately became the apple of his eye.
He began a long corporate career as a management trainee at Colorado’s largest bank, the First National Bank of Denver (now Wells Fargo Bank in Denver). Alvin quickly rose through the ranks and became the bank’s first African-American Vice President responsible for the Rocky Mountain Bankcard system (Visa & MasterCard). It was here he became a prominent business leader in the Mile High City. In 1973, Alvin was privileged to ceremonially break ground on a 32-story tower as the bank doubled in size. At that time, this tower was the tallest building in Colorado. The event was captured on the front page of the Rocky Newspaper. Alvin went on to earn additional banking management credentials from the University of Colorado at Boulder and Northwestern University. Alvin’s career next led him to the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) in Denver where he led teams in closing troubled banks in the Western United States. He traveled as far away as Alaska in helping close down failing banks.
On the weekends, Alvin loved to play golf. He competed in local competitions and won a number of tournaments. He also began to take risks. He loved fast cars. The family cars in those days included a Pontiac GTO and a Chevy Malibu SS, which he loved to drag race down the back side of Lookout Mountain outside of Denver. If you’ve ever driven there, you would know that he is very lucky to have survived. Despite many, many, warnings and tickets, he could not stop. It helped him remember and live out his memory of his Uncle Leo’s risk-taking. He loved to play pool at home where he would run the tables with his friends and family.
In the early 1980s, Alvin’s personal life took a turn. After divorcing, he found it difficult to find his footing again. He never remarried and his career began to falter. He seemingly lost his focus and eventually suffered a near fatal heart attack at the young age of 50 and after losing his father to cancer. He was actually gone for over 20 seconds before being revived. For the rest of his life, he considered this to be his 2nd chance in life that he called his 2nd birthday. When he was at his lowest point in life, an extension of that close-knit family came to Denver to bring Alvin home. His mother Lenora came to the rescue. She took her very first flight alone to come to see about her son. He decided to return with her to Arkansas where they lived together for the rest of her and his life. With Lenora’s help, Alvin returned to good health, got back on his feet and with her great cooking, he almost doubled in physical size. In Arkansas, Alvin once again thrived. He continued in his career at Nuvell (GMAC) until his retirement.
In retirement, Alvin loved to relax, fish and watch his favorite television program, The Young and the Restless. He truly enjoyed time resting at home.
He leaves behind a legacy defined by his educational achievements, a successful career, his faith, humility and hope. His life is an example of how to overcome and to comeback. He was a true champion fighter until his final day. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him but will never be forgotten by his son, Herman “Andre” Thomas (Donnalyn); his daughter Felicia Carr (Anthony); granddaughter Maya Thomas; grandsons DeAndre Vaughns, Christopher Vaughns and Anthony Carr; and great-grandsons Christopher Jr. and Corvay Vaughns.
Alvin rededicated his life to Christ shortly before departing life here on Earth and leaves a legacy of redemption for all who knew him.
He Ended as he Began
Loved
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Contributed on 3/16/17 by hawkinsdonna
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Record #: 1181047