Elmer Thomas

Elmer Thomas
Thomas in 1926
United States Senator from Oklahoma
In office March 4, 1927 – January 3, 1951
Preceded by	John W. Harreld
Succeeded by	A. S. Mike Monroney
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 6th district
In office March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1927
Preceded by	L.M. Gensman
Succeeded by	Jed Johnson
3rd President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
In office 1911–1913
Preceded by	J. C. Graham
Succeeded by	C. B. Kendrick
Member of the Oklahoma Senate from the 17th district
In office 1907–1920
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Jed Johnson
Personal details
Born	John William Elmer Thomas (1876-09-08)September 8, 1876 Greencastle, Indiana
Died	September 19, 1965(1965-09-19) (aged 89) Lawton, Oklahoma
Resting place	Highland Cemetery 34°37′56″N 98°24′1″W / 34.63222°N 98.40028°W / 34.63222; -98.40028 (Elmer Thomas Burial Site)
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Edith Smith
Alma mater	Central Normal College DePauw University
Profession	Lawyer

John William Elmer Thomas (September 8, 1876 – September 19, 1965) was a native of Indiana who moved to Oklahoma Territory in 1901, where he practiced law in Lawton. After statehood, he was elected to the first state senate, representing the Lawton area. In 1922, he ran successfully on the Democratic Party ticket for the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma. He was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1926; he won this race and held the seat until 1950, when he lost the party nomination to A.S. (Mike) Monroney. Thomas returned to a private law practice in Washington, D.C., and in 1957 moved his practice back to Lawton, where he died in 1965.