Born on January 28, 1898, Judge Thomas was a pioneering force in the civil rights movement. He was the only African-American graduate of the University of Michigan’s Law School in 1923. At his graduation dinner, he sat alone, as no other graduate would join him. Noticing his isolation, the Dean of the school chose to sit with him, a “Grand Gesture” that Judge Thomas would carry with him throughout his life.
I had the privilege of spending an afternoon with Judge Thomas’s widow, Mrs. Eugenia Thomas, at her kitchen table, where we reminisced about her husband’s remarkable life. Even in her seventies, she radiated dignity and beauty. We spent hours looking at family photographs, reflecting on how a man who had started from such humble beginnings—working as a janitor while awaiting his law school graduation—could achieve so much. Eugenia and I remained in touch for many years, exchanging holiday greetings, and I was deeply honored by her approval of the portrait of her beloved husband.
Judge Thomas was born in Ocala, Florida, the son of a schoolteacher and a mechanic. After graduating from Florida A&M University in 1919, he earned his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1923. He practiced law in Detroit and Jacksonville before settling in Miami in 1935, where he became a prominent figure in the civil rights movement. He fought for the rights of African Americans in many areas, including voter registration in Duval County, the equalization of teacher salaries, and the inclusion of African Americans in jury panels across the state. His work often brought him into close collaboration with Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP in their long struggle to dismantle segregation and eradicate the injustices of Jim Crow.
Judge Thomas retired from the bench in 1961 and returned to private practice, continuing to influence the legal landscape until his passing in 1989.
In recognition of his enduring impact, a portfolio featuring a digital image of the original pastel painting of Judge Lawson E. Thomas was submitted to the Smithsonian Institution’s American Art and Portrait Gallery Library in Washington, D.C. The digital art rendition has been approved for inclusion in the “Living Artists File,” where it serves as a referral for future commissions and a testament to the lasting legacy of American heroes like Judge Thomas. This file is accessible to the public, offering an opportunity to learn about the heroes of our nation and the artists who captured their likenesses for prosperity.
