GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1997 SESSION
RATIFIED BILL

RESOLUTION 25
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 707

A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF ROYCE PHELPS "BO" THOMAS, FORMER MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Whereas, Royce Phelps Thomas, affectionately known as "Bo", was born in Avon Park, Florida, on January 3, 1932, to J.R. Thomas and Eunice Phelps Thomas; and
Whereas, Bo Thomas graduated from the Blue Ridge School for Boys in 1948, and attended Duke University from 1948 to 1951; and
Whereas, Bo Thomas was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the United States Army from 1957 to 1960, and was inducted into the Officer's Candidate School Hall of Fame in Fort Benning, Georgia; and
Whereas, Bo Thomas bore a great love for Western North Carolina, spending most of his life in Hendersonville and contributing to the area's economy as vice-president and owner of Thomas Produce Company; and
Whereas, Bo Thomas showed an outstanding devotion to public service, serving with honor and distinction as a member of the North Carolina Senate from 1979 to 1988; and
Whereas, during his tenure in the General Assembly, Bo Thomas was tenacious in seeking to improve the welfare of his mountain community, to which he remained loyal; and
Whereas, Bo Thomas was a staunch supporter of the Blue Ridge Community College for which he helped to secure funds to plan the college's new Allied Health and Human Services Building and funds for the college's Killian Building, which houses a library, an audiovisual center, a student lounge, a cafeteria, and a bookstore and is used by both the students and the public; and
Whereas, Bo Thomas played a large role in securing funding to replace the condemned Henderson County Courthouse with a new structure; and
Whereas, having a great respect for the environment, Bo Thomas vigorously pushed for legislation restricting tall structures on mountain ridges, which became an act referred to as the "Ridge Law"; and
Whereas, Bo Thomas's love for public service was extended to his activities as a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion and as a member of the Hendersonville Lions Club; and
Whereas, Bo Thomas served on the National Board of Advisors for the renowned Brevard Music Center; and
Whereas, Bo Thomas was active in the Presbyterian Church, having served as a Deacon of the First Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville; and
Whereas, Bo Thomas was a man of the people, who said what he thought and believed that direct action was the most effective means to an end; and
Whereas, the State of North Carolina suffered a great loss when Bo Thomas died on January 14, 1997; and
Whereas, Bo Thomas is survived by his wife, Margaret Stonecipher Thomas; three children, James Royce Thomas, Mary Thomas Vieira, and Richard Latt Thomas; four grandchildren; and several other close relatives and friends; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

Section 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Bo Thomas and expresses the gratitude and appreciation of this State and its citizens for his life and service to North Carolina.
Section 2.  The General Assembly extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Bo Thomas for the loss of a dear family member.
Section 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Royce Phelps "Bo" Thomas.
Section 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification. 
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 23rd day of July, 1997.

	────────────────── 
	Dennis A. Wicker
	President of the Senate

	────────────────── 
	Harold J. Brubaker
	Speaker of the House of Representatives