Henry M. Thomas III, 77, the first person of color to lead the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees and a tireless advocate for civil rights as longtime president and CEO of the Urban League of Springfield, died May 25.

Image

Thomas served as a member of the five-campus Board of Trustees from 2012-20 and as chair of the board from 2012-15. He also served as chair of the board’s Committee on Academic and Student Affairs and vice chair of the UMass Building Authority, which oversees the university’s multi-billion capital construction initiative.

“His commitment to UMass and to his hometown of Springfield was central to everything he did, and his legacy will impact young people in Springfield for generations to come,” UMass President Marty Meehan said in a statement following Thomas’ death. “We were proud to honor Henry in 2024 by naming the university’s location in Tower Square as the UMass Amherst Henry M. Thomas III Center at Springfield, a place that provides access to higher education to students from around the region. Henry was a leading advocate for establishing the center in his hometown because of his belief that access to education has the power to change lives.”

Image

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Henry, who was a transformational leader at UMass and across the Commonwealth who embodied our commitment to the common good,” said Chancellor Javier A. Reyes. “Henry’s legacy will live on as we continue to create opportunities for the next generation of leaders and increase economic opportunities through education, research and service.”

In 1974, at the age of 25, Thomas became the youngest president/CEO of a National Urban League affiliate and served in that capacity for half a century. He served two years as National Urban League vice president for youth development, focusing on program development to support inner city youth. He was instrumental in reviving Historic Camp Atwater in North Brookfield – the oldest African American overnight youth camp in the U.S.

For two decades, Thomas produced and hosted “Urban League Community Focus,” a weekly radio program on WTCC 90.7 FM, and served on numerous local, state and national boards, including: Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, Massachusetts Board of Education, New Leadership Charter School, Step Up Springfield, Hamden County Regional Employment Board, Springfield Cable TV Endowment, Springfield Fire Commission, Springfield Police Commission, and the Western Massachusetts Sports Commission.

Image

Thomas earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Masters of Arts degree in Human Resource Development from American International College, and a law degree from Western New England University School of Law.

More details about Thomas’ life, including remembrances from friends and colleagues including U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno and Yvette Frisby, current CEO and president of the Urban League, can be found in this article published by The Springfield Republican/MassLive.

St. John’s Congregational Church, located 45 Hancock St., Springfield, will hold a viewing for Thomas Monday, June 8 from 9-11 a.m., followed by funeral services at 11 a.m.

Note: The date of the viewing and funeral has been changed from when this article was originally published. The new date is June 8.