James Ward Thomas II

Dr. “Tom” Thomas passed away November 16, 2022 from gastrointestinal cancer at age 74. He was born in Humboldt, TN and grew up in Milan, TN where his father was superintendent of the school system. Reports of any boyish misdeeds reached home well before he did, and at a young age he learned to think before he spoke and look before he leaped. After completing high school, Tom attended Southwestern at Memphis (now Rhodes College) and received his BA in Biology and Chemistry. He attended medical school at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, graduating AOA and honored by the Department of Medicine Award for the Medical Class of 1973. His lifelong interest in immunology began there as an NIH Research Trainee. He completed his Internal Medicine internship at UT Memphis and his residency at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. To further his training in immunology, he applied to the National Institutes of Health and was appointed a Clinical Associate Physician in the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, Bethesda, MD.

On the morning after his first night on call at the NIH Clinical Center, he asked the staff “Where’s this guy Gerry Miller who’s next on the call schedule? It’s been a long night, I’m ready to go home.” They told him “She’s in the cafeteria having breakfast, waiting for you to sign out the service patients”. He proceeded to the cafeteria, unaware he would meet the woman who would become his wife for 41 years.

While at the NIH, he contributed to a seminal paper leading to new insights into the role of immunogenetics in production of antibodies to insulin in patients with Type I diabetes. Following the NIH, he was awarded a post-doctoral fellowship by the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation which allowed him to continue immunology training in the Department of Pathology at Jewish Hospital of St. Louis, Washington University Medical Center. From there, Tom and Gerry moved to Houston, TX in 1981 to begin their academic medical careers. Tom was appointed Assistant Professor of Medicine, then promoted to Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and Associate Director of the Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center. After 10 productive years in Houston, Tom joined the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 1990. He was Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, and Director of the Division of Rheumatology and Immunology for 16 years. He was a teacher, clinician, researcher, and leader.

During his tenure at VUMC, he was loved by his Rheumatology patients for his kind, empathetic care. He was a dedicated scientist who was esteemed for his original contributions to understanding the immunologic basis of auto-immunity in Type I diabetes. He was a gently guiding and motivating mentor to students, post-doctoral fellows, and colleagues, emphasizing scientific rigor, adventurous hypotheses, and collaboration rather than competition. He served on numerous NIH panels related to rheumatologic autoimmune diseases, Type I diabetes, and as the chair of the NIH Tolerance, Transplantation, and Tumor Immunology Study Section. He also served on many Vanderbilt graduate student committees, helping to train the next generation of scientists.

Tom was able to recapture his small-town roots and love of the country on the farm he and Gerry lived on near Franklin with the horses and dogs they loved. He was an enthusiastic equestrian, ready for a ride no matter the weather. He is survived by his wife, Geraldine (Gerry) Miller, and cousins in Alabama and Texas. Those wishing to make donations in his memory may consider his favorite charitable organizations, the Hooved Animal Humane Society, ASPCA, Mid-Cumberland Meals on Wheels, and Special Olympics. No funeral services are planned.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.marshalldonnellycombs.com for the Thomas family.