Obituary of Jimmy L. Thomas

Thomas, Jimmy L. of Eden, 76, died May 1, 2018 in Hospice Buffalo following a stroke. Born in Mayfield, KY to Alben and Emmalaura Thomas, he is survived by his cherished wife Kristin Hagelin Kent, by sons Nelson of Rochester and Carter of Ithaca, by grandchildren Andrew and Anna Thomas, and by beloved family friend Dr. Mary Gail Mercurio of Rochester, as well as siblings John (Darlene) of Upper Sandusky, OH, Mary (Rick) Kotter of Paducah, KY and Martha Thomas of Louisville, KY, as well as many bereaved in-laws, nieces and nephews. Mr. Thomas graduated in 1963 from the University of Kentucky and received an MBA degree in finance in 1964 from the Columbia University School of Business, where he was a Samuel Bronfman Fellow. He began his career as a financial analyst at Ford Motor Company in Detroit and then worked at the Joel Dean consulting firm and at Trans World Airlines, both in New York City. In 1973 he moved to Gannett Co., Inc. (now TEGNA) in Rochester, where he spent the next 25 years. His initial position was Treasurer, and he retired in 1998 as Senior Vice President and Treasurer and a member of the executive management committee. He was responsible for all company financings and investment management for the company, its pension plans and employee benefit plans. He created a unique, and highly successful, investment management program for the pension plans. He also handled cash management, all investment banking relationships, all major purchasing for the company and its 120 subsidiaries, and managed the company's fleet of airplanes. His special assignments for Gannett included numerous acquisitions of newspapers and broadcast stations during a time of great company growth. Her leased and outfitted the office towers for Gannett and USA TODAY in Arlington, VA when the company moved there in 1985. A decade later he handled the land acquisition and construction of new corporate and USA TODAY office towers in Tyson's Corners, VA. Mr. Thomas served on many boards, including Donahue Charlevoix, Inc. in Quebec, Tremont Advisors in Rye, NY, and several hospital boards in Rochester and Northern Virginia. His charitable gifts were many and varied, including the Jimmy L. Thomas scholarship at Columbia University School of Business, scholarships for graduating students at Mayfield High School and the Community Benevolent Fund at his family church in Mayfield. Family and friends shared memories of Jimmy at the DONALD M. DEMMERLEY FUNERAL HOME, INC., 21 Pierce Avenue, Hamburg on Sunday, May 6 from 3-6 PM. Flowers are gratefully declined. A funeral service will be held at a later date at the First Christian Church of Mayfield, KY, followed by interment in Mayfield. Online guest register at www.demmerleyfuneralhome.com.