Mary Thomas (politician) facts for kids

Mary V. Thomas (born April 29, 1944 – died August 21, 2014) was an important leader and activist for the Pima people in America. She made history as the first woman to be the Governor of the Gila River Indian Community. She held this important role from 1994 to 2000. Before becoming Governor, she also served as Lieutenant Governor twice: first from 1990 to 1994, and again starting in 2003. Mary Thomas was very active in tribal politics and worked hard to improve life for Native American communities. She focused on important issues like getting enough water rights and using community projects to help her people.

Mary Thomas: A Leader for Her Community

Mary Thomas's Early Life

Mary Thomas, a member of the Pima people, was born Mary Smith in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 29, 1944. Her parents were Elwood Dennis and Elizabeth Smith. She grew up in Sacaton, Arizona, in a home built by her father. Her family's home did not have electricity until she was a teenager. In an interview in 1998, Mary Thomas remembered her early life without modern conveniences. She said, "It was a way of life...We accepted it." After high school, she attended Phoenix College and Central Arizona College. She then worked in different jobs, including a bus driver and a teacher's aide. She married George Thomas in 1968.

Her Journey in Politics

Mary Thomas first served on the Gila River council during the 1980s. In 1990, the Gila River Governor, Thomas White, asked her to run for Lieutenant Governor with him. They both won the election. In 1994, Governor White decided not to run again. He encouraged Mary Thomas to run for Governor. She won the election and became the first woman to lead the Gila River Indian Community as Governor.

Governor Thomas believed that community projects could help create jobs and improve living conditions for her people. The Gila River's first community project opened in 1994. Mary Thomas appeared in television commercials to explain how money from these projects would be used. She promised to improve basic services and the quality of life for everyone. She became well-known for her efforts to bring new resources to her community. In a speech in 1994, she highlighted the needs of her people. She said, "We don't have many of the simple things, like clean water and indoor plumbing, that many communities take for granted...Can you imagine having one fire engine for this whole reservation?"

During her time as Governor, the Gila River Indian Community started its own police and fire departments. She also helped plan for a new hospital on the reservation. Her two terms as Governor had some challenges. In 1998, she faced an effort to remove her from office, but she successfully remained in her position.

Mary Thomas finished her term as Governor in 2000. She ran for a seat in the Arizona House of Representatives in 2000 but did not win. People often talked about her as a possible candidate for the United States House of Representatives in the 2000s. However, she chose to focus again on the Gila River Indian Community and tribal issues. In 2003, she was elected Lieutenant Governor of the Gila River Indian Community for a second time. She had previously served in this role from 1990 to 1994. She ran for Governor of the Gila River Indian Community again in 2011 but was not successful.

The University of Arizona honored Mary Thomas in April 2012. They added her to the school's Women's Plaza of Honor, recognizing her important contributions.

Mary Thomas passed away after an illness at Chandler Regional Medical Center in Chandler, Arizona, on August 21, 2014. She was 70 years old. She lived in Sacaton, Arizona.