He was an 1890 graduate of Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT and an 1893 graduate of Union Theological Seminary. He was pastor of the Arlington Avenue Presbyterian Church in East Orange, New Jersey from 1893 to 1908.
In 1908 he returned to his alma mater, Middlebury College, as its ninth president. During his tenure, the college grew in size and several major buildings were added. He took a leave of absence during his tenure to serve in World War I as an Army Chaplain.
After leaving Middlebury in 1921, he became the ninth president of Penn State in State College, PA from 1921 to 1925 and the twelfth president of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ from 1925 to 1930. Starting in 1937, he served as acting president of Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, before being elected to Norwich's president in 1939.
He was Vice-President of the National Life Insurance Company, Montpelier, Vermont from 1930 to 1938.
His retirement project was establishing Mendon Mountain Orchards, in Mendon, VT, where he resided with family.
He was married to Sarah Grace Seely on May 18, 1893. They were the parents of Marion Fox, Huldah Gale, Henry S. Thomas, John M. Thomas and Sarah G. Thomas. After the death of his first wife, he married former Middlebury College Dean of Women, Eleanor Ross, on June 18, 1949.
In 1908 he returned to his alma mater, Middlebury College, as its ninth president. During his tenure, the college grew in size and several major buildings were added. He took a leave of absence during his tenure to serve in World War I as an Army Chaplain.
After leaving Middlebury in 1921, he became the ninth president of Penn State in State College, PA from 1921 to 1925 and the twelfth president of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ from 1925 to 1930. Starting in 1937, he served as acting president of Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, before being elected to Norwich's president in 1939.
He was Vice-President of the National Life Insurance Company, Montpelier, Vermont from 1930 to 1938.
His retirement project was establishing Mendon Mountain Orchards, in Mendon, VT, where he resided with family.
He was married to Sarah Grace Seely on May 18, 1893. They were the parents of Marion Fox, Huldah Gale, Henry S. Thomas, John M. Thomas and Sarah G. Thomas. After the death of his first wife, he married former Middlebury College Dean of Women, Eleanor Ross, on June 18, 1949.
He was an 1890 graduate of Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT and an 1893 graduate of Union Theological Seminary. He was pastor of the Arlington Avenue Presbyterian Church in East Orange, New Jersey from 1893 to 1908.
In 1908 he returned to his alma mater, Middlebury College, as its ninth president. During his tenure, the college grew in size and several major buildings were added. He took a leave of absence during his tenure to serve in World War I as an Army Chaplain.
After leaving Middlebury in 1921, he became the ninth president of Penn State in State College, PA from 1921 to 1925 and the twelfth president of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ from 1925 to 1930. Starting in 1937, he served as acting president of Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, before being elected to Norwich's president in 1939.
He was Vice-President of the National Life Insurance Company, Montpelier, Vermont from 1930 to 1938.
His retirement project was establishing Mendon Mountain Orchards, in Mendon, VT, where he resided with family.
He was married to Sarah Grace Seely on May 18, 1893. They were the parents of Marion Fox, Huldah Gale, Henry S. Thomas, John M. Thomas and Sarah G. Thomas. After the death of his first wife, he married former Middlebury College Dean of Women, Eleanor Ross, on June 18, 1949.
In 1908 he returned to his alma mater, Middlebury College, as its ninth president. During his tenure, the college grew in size and several major buildings were added. He took a leave of absence during his tenure to serve in World War I as an Army Chaplain.
After leaving Middlebury in 1921, he became the ninth president of Penn State in State College, PA from 1921 to 1925 and the twelfth president of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ from 1925 to 1930. Starting in 1937, he served as acting president of Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, before being elected to Norwich's president in 1939.
He was Vice-President of the National Life Insurance Company, Montpelier, Vermont from 1930 to 1938.
His retirement project was establishing Mendon Mountain Orchards, in Mendon, VT, where he resided with family.
He was married to Sarah Grace Seely on May 18, 1893. They were the parents of Marion Fox, Huldah Gale, Henry S. Thomas, John M. Thomas and Sarah G. Thomas. After the death of his first wife, he married former Middlebury College Dean of Women, Eleanor Ross, on June 18, 1949.
Inscription
Family stone:
JOHN MARTIN THOMAS
1869 - 1952
Personal marker:
Image of a cross
JOHN MARTIN THOMAS
VERMONT
LT COL CH - RES
WORLD WAR I
DEC 27 1869 FEB 26 1952
