Richard "Dick" Thomas, 72, of Belpre, passed away June 8, 2009, at the Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Dick was born Aug. 2, 1936, in Parkersburg, a son of the late June and Marguerite Davis Thomas. He was a 1954 graduate of Belpre High School and a 1964 graduate of Wharton School of Finance.

Dick was a member of United Steelworkers of America Union with Kaiser Aluminum and progressed through 22 management positions in 25 years and retired as vice president of National Marketing. At HEPA Corporation, he served as Chief Executive Officer. He was elected to a four-year term as Belpre Mayor. Dick was co-executive director of Ohio River Trails Inc., the manager of the Ohio River National Scenic Byway and was co-founder of Ohio River Trails and the Byway.

He was chair of Belpre Area Community Development Foundation, a member of the Belpre Historical Society, president of the Belpre High School Alumni Association, president of Economic Roundtable of Ohio Valley, charter member of the Rotary Club of Belpre and active member of the Belpre Holiday Lights Committee. Dick was also a member of the Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame, Ohio Department of Commerce Oversight Committee, Artsbridge Board, Masonic groups such as Belpre Lodge 609 of F & AM, where he was a 32nd Degree Mason and Shriner, Valley of Cambridge Scottish Rite Bodies and Nemesis Shrine, Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels and the Cherry Hill Navy. He was also a member of the Big Ten Club, Elks and Moose Lodges, various school alumni groups and Ohio's AppGo Committee.

Among many of his awards were Ohio's Outstanding Young Man in 1964, Belpre Jaycee's Outstanding Citizen in 1965, Citizen of the Year in 1999 by the Civitan Club and awarded Outstanding Community Service Award by Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce in 1999.

He attended St. Andrews United Methodist Church of Parkersburg, a member of the American Legion, a veteran of the U.S. Army and a member of De Sales Foundation. Dick was also past president of St. Joseph's Hospital.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Pamela Jackson Thomas; a daughter, Julie Thomas and son-in-law, Colin Carr-Nall, of Los Angeles, Calif.; several nieces and nephews; cousin, Patsy Rutt of New Port Richey, Fla.; and "Duffy" the dog.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at the Porterfield Baptist Church in Little Hocking, Ohio, with Dr. Thomas McDowell officiating. Burial will follow in Rockland Cemetery, Belpre, with full military rites by the American Legion Post 15 of Parkersburg. Visitation will be from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home in Belpre and one hour prior to the services Friday at the church. Belpre Masonic Lodge 609 will conduct Masonic services at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

For those considering an expression of sympathy, memorials may be sent to the Belpre Historical Society, 509 Ridge Street, Belpre, or Belpre Holiday Lights, 715 Park Drive, Belpre. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.lamberttatman.com