Mary Thomas (politician) facts for kids

Mary V. Thomas (born April 29, 1944 – died August 21, 2014) was an important leader and activist from the Pima people. She made history as the first woman to become the Governor of the Gila River Indian Community. She held this top leadership role from 1994 to 2000.

Before becoming Governor, Mary Thomas also served as Lieutenant Governor for the Gila River Indian Community. She held this position twice: first from 1990 to 1994, and again starting in 2003. Mary Thomas was very involved in tribal politics. She also worked hard to improve life for Native American communities, focusing on issues like poverty, water rights, and the use of casinos to help her people.

About Mary Thomas: Her Life and Work

Growing Up in the Gila River Community

Mary Thomas was born Mary Smith in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 29, 1944. She was a member of the Pima people. Her parents were Elwood Dennis and Elizabeth Smith. Mary grew up in Sacaton, Arizona, in a home built by her father.

Her childhood home was an adobe house. It did not have electricity until she was a teenager. It also lacked indoor plumbing. In an interview from 1998, Mary Thomas said about her early life, "It was a way of life...We accepted it."

After high school, Mary Thomas went to Phoenix College and Central Arizona College. She worked many different jobs. These included being a mortuary assistant, a bus driver, and a teacher's aide. She married her husband, George Thomas, in 1968.

Mary Thomas's Political Journey

Mary Thomas was active in 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.

Using Casinos to Help the Community

Governor Thomas strongly believed that casino gaming could help reduce poverty and unemployment. The Gila River's first casino opened in 1994. Mary Thomas appeared in television commercials. She wanted to show Gila River members that casino profits would improve basic services and quality of life.

The Arizona Republic newspaper said that Thomas became "known as the face of Indian casinos." At the casino's opening in 1994, she spoke about the community's needs. 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?"

Improvements and Challenges as Governor

During Governor Thomas's time in office, the Gila River Indian Community created its own police and fire departments. She also oversaw plans to build a new hospital on the reservation.

Her two terms as Governor had some political challenges. In 1998, there was an effort to remove her from office through a recall. However, she successfully remained in her position.

After Her Governorship

Mary Thomas left the Governor's office in 2000. She ran for the Arizona House of Representatives that same year but did not win. People in Arizona and Washington D.C. often thought she might run for the United States House of Representatives.

However, she chose to focus on the Gila River Indian Community and tribal issues again. In 2003, she was elected Lieutenant Governor of the Gila River Indian Community for a second time. She had served in this role before, from 1990 to 1994. In 2011, she ran for Governor of the Gila River Indian Community again but was not successful.

In April 2012, the University of Arizona honored Mary Thomas. They added her to the school's Women's Plaza of Honor.

Mary Thomas passed away on August 21, 2014, at the age of 70. She died from an illness at Chandler Regional Medical Center in Chandler, Arizona. She was a widow and lived in Sacaton, Arizona.