Billy Thomas Obituary

Billy left this life July 20, 2016, in the Supportive Care Unit at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston TX. He was a stage 4 melanoma survivor for over four years after treatment with a new immunotherapy. In 2015, he was diagnosed with two cancers due to Agent Orange exposure. During his last days, he and his wife, Judith McConnell DeHart Thomas, knew with the certainty of their faith that they will be united again.

Billy was born August 14, 1940 in Crystal City, TX to Harold D. and Marie M. Thomas. The Thomas family lived in communities around Abilene, TX during his youth where his father was a school Band director and then an Elementary School Principal in Killeen TX and his mother taught 2nd grade. Billy and his sister, Patricia Ann Thomas Blackstock were graduates of Killeen High School and proud to be Killeen Kangaroos.

In 1958, Billy received a music scholarship to Texas Christian University, planning to follow in his father's footsteps, majoring in music education and joining the TCU marching and ROTC bands. He was proud to be a "Horned Frog" and felt his education at TCU and four years as an ROTC cadet laid the foundation for the rest of his life. He never lost his love of music - marches, big band, swing, jazz, country or classical -and enjoyed "guest conducting" Army Bands.

As a Distinguished Military Graduate, Billy was commissioned in May, 1962 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps where he began his "Rendezvous with Destiny" in his first assignment with the 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY. After the Signal Officer Basic Course and obtaining his jump wings, Billy experienced the selfless service exemplified by his fellow Screaming Eagles and the creed of "Duty, Honor, Country." This comradery led him to the decision to stay in the Army.

Moving to West Germany in 1965, he was the Operations Officer and then a Company Commander in the 447th Signal Battalion in the "British Sector" of the country. Upon arriving he used an "Esso" map and drove a VW bug for almost two weeks to visit all the signal sites. Returning to the states, Billy attended the Signal Officer Advance Course and was Chief for the 31M Radio Relay Course at Fort Gordon, GA before being assigned in 1968 to command a Signal Company on a mountain in Vietnam where it actually snowed.

From 1969 to 1977, his assignments included Graduate School at George Washington University, receiving a Master of Science degree in Telecommunications Operations; another tour in Vietnam as a MACV Signal Planning Advisor; the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS; and as a Staff Officer at the Army Military Personnel Center in Alexandria, VA.

In 1977, Billy assumed command of the 5th Signal Battalion, 5th Infantry Division at Fort Polk, LA and then was selected for attendance at the Army War College (class of 1980). From February 1981 to August 1983, he commanded the 93rd Signal Brigade in Ludwigsburg, West Germany, serving concurrently as the VII Corps Signal Officer.

Billy was the Deputy Commanding General of the Signal Center and School, Fort Gordon, GA, from October 1983 to June 1985, and from July 1985 to May 1987, served as the Deputy Director, Combat Support Systems, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Acquisition at the Pentagon. After promotion to Major General, he commanded the Communications Electronics Command, Fort Monmouth, NJ from May, 1987 to July, 1990. As a Lieutenant General, Billy served as the Deputy Commanding General for Research, Development and Acquisition of the Army Material Command in Alexandria, VA.

Billy felt his greatest accomplishments during his career were first, the opportunities to mentor talented, professional commissioned and non-commissioned officers with whom he served; and in the 80's to work with a group of visionaries developing the concept of a mobile telephone system for the Army, defining the requirements for an "off-the-shelf" acquisition, navigating the budget process, and having the phone system simultaneously provided to Active, Reserve and National Guard units throughout the Army. For the first time Commanders and Soldiers could keep the same phone number as they maneuvered in battle.

In what he called the A.A. years (after Army), Billy worked with defense companies in meeting new acquisition requirements, advised others on international communication issues and coordinated a group of scientists and engineers working on a variety of projects. Billy was Interim Executive Director of the Military Community Youth Ministry, serving teens of military families overseas and stateside. Billy was President and Chairman of the Board for the Uniformed Services Disabled Retirees during the years they and other military retiree groups successfully petitioned Congress to change an antiquated law and finally allow the concurrent receipt of VA disability compensation without an offset of earned military retired pay.

With a blended family of four children, Billy and Judith have been so blessed to be a part of the lives of such kind, loving individuals, who have excelled in their chosen professions. Jon S. Thomas is a High School Principal in Valhalla, NY and his wife Merry just completed her 30th year of teaching Kindergarten in Tarrytown, NY. Kim Thomas Builta is a TCU graduate, a CPA and worked with her husband, J. R. Builta in their family business. Kirsten DeHart Statt is head of the Hastings High School Science Department at Alief ISD in Texas, completing her 20th year of teaching AP Physics. Her husband, Steve Statt is also a Science "guy." U. S. Army Major David E. DeHart is currently assigned to Fort Gordon, GA, having served multiple overseas deployments. Their 5 grandchildren, Justin, Niki, Liz, Kaci and Michael are a constant reminder of God's generous gifts to us. Billy valued time spent with family and friends and loved playing golf whenever and wherever he could. Always up for another adventure, he kept his promise to Judith that life would never be dull.

As a man of deep faith, Billy heeded the call of sharing his time, talents and tithes with religious, community and military groups that help others. He would commend the Fisher House Foundation, Habitat for Humanity or the Disabled American Veterans Organization to you as organizations to support.

Memorial Service: 1:00 p.m., August 5, 2016 at Coker United Methodist Church, San Antonio TX

Funeral and Burial - Arlington National Cemetery at a later date