Floyd Mattison Thomas was born on August 30, 1923, in Monnett, Missouri, and grew up in McGehee, Desha County, Arkansas.
After serving in the US Army's 103rd Infantry Division during World War II, Thomas attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, earning a B.S.E. in education and an M.S. in biological sciences.
Thomas taught school in Paris, Arkansas, before joining the FBI. He worked in several cities, including Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; St. Louis, Missouri; Newark, New Jersey; and Hot Springs and El Dorado, Arkansas. Thomas also spent time in Philadelphia, Mississippi, investigating the murder of three civil rights workers in 1964. While in St. Louis, Thomas worked on the Greenlease kidnapping case. One of Thomas's most significant accomplishments involved infiltrating the KKK in Arkansas and diminishing its presence in the state.
Thomas passed away on July 15, 2014.
#1: Composite image of early photo of Floyd Thomas and still frame from Pryor Center video interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#2: Floyd Thomas's parents: Loyd J. and Goldie Roden Thomas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#3: Floyd Thomas, Clifton Thomas, and friends
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#4: Floyd Thomas at age 19 in US Army uniform, 1943
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#5: Floyd Thomas, 1948
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#6: Floyd Thomas and Douglas Rosenberg; Poplar Bluff, Arkansas, early 1960s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#7: Floyd Thomas portrait
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#8: Floyd Thomas receiving a plaque at his retirement banquet
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#9: Floyd Thomas with his wife and daughter at his retirement banquet
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#10: Floyd Thomas with his wife and daughter at his retirement banquet
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#11: Floyd Thomas receiving a plaque at his retirement banquet
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#12: Floyd Thomas receiving a watch at his retirement banquet
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#13: FBI Offer of Appointment as Special Agent - Letter to Floyd Thomas from J. Edgar Hoover (page 1); January 23, 1951
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#14: FBI Offer of Appointment as Special Agent - Letter to Floyd Thomas from J. Edgar Hoover (page 2); January 23, 1951
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#15: Letter from J. Edgar Hoover congratulating Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Thomas on the birth of their son; January 14, 1953
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#16: Personal commendation letter to Floyd Thomas from J. Edgar Hoover; March 30, 1956
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#17: Promotion letter to Floyd Thomas from J. Edgar Hoover; December 10, 1956
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#18: Commendation letter to Floyd Thomas from Assistant United States Attorney Murray L. Randall; October 25, 1957
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#19: Personal letter to Floyd Thomas from J. Edgar Hoover regarding FBI physical standards; October 6, 1960
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#20: Notification letter to Floyd Thomas from J. Edgar Hoover regarding change of headquarters; November 26, 1963
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#21: Letter to President Lyndon Johnson from Floyd Thomas regarding J. Edgar Hoover; May 11, 1964
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#22: Personal letter to Floyd Thomas from J. Edgar Hoover; December 22, 1964
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#23: Letter from J. Edgar Hoover to Herbert Hoxie commending Floyd Thomas and other agents in Little Rock; June 5, 1970
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#24: Personal letter of commendation to Floyd Thomas from Clarence M. Kelley for work on civil rights case; July 27, 1973
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#25: Floyd Thomas's daughter Melissa on her 11th birthday; 1969
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#26: Floyd Thomas and family at his retirement banquet
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#27: Floyd Thomas with his family and others at his retirement banquet
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#28: Floyd Thomas and family at his retirement banquet
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#29: Floyd Thomas portrait, 2005
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#30: Floyd Thomas and family
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#31: Floyd Thomas's award for years of service in the FBI
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#32: Floyd Thomas in "Papa's Playhouse" workshop, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#33: Floyd Thomas in his workshop with Tom Dillard, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#34: Floyd Thomas in his workshop with Tom Dillard, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#35: Floyd Thomas in his workshop with Tom Dillard and camera operator, Franklin Evarts; 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#36: Floyd Thomas in his workshop with Tom Dillard, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#37: Floyd Thomas in "Papa's Playhouse" workshop, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#38: Floyd Thomas in his workshop with Tom Dillard, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#39: Tom Dillard in Floyd Thomas's workshop, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#40: Floyd Thomas in "Papa's Playhouse" workshop, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#41: Floyd Thomas in "Papa's Playhouse" workshop, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#42: Floyd Thomas outside his workshop with Tom Dillard (left) and Franklin Evarts (center)
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
