John Nay Thomas' Obituary
John Nay Thomas
John Nay Thomas, well-known and respected Longview Businessman, died Sunday in Longview. John was born July 14, 1951, to Naseep and Margaret Jabour Thomas and followed the family tradition of becoming an outstanding leader in promoting and developing his hometown of Longview. A graduate of Longview High School, John continued his studies at Kilgore College and Southern Methodist University where he received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Real Estate. At SMU, he was active in campus life and was an outstanding member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
East Texas and Longview were such a vital part of his life that, after working in the Dallas commercial real estate market, he decided to come back to his roots. In 1980, John joined two friends, Johnny Vaughan and Buddy Woolley, and formed Triple J Investments and entered the oil and gas production business. That venture proved to be highly successful, and the three friends branched out in the investments and business transactions that vaulted Triple J into prominence in the ArkLaTex areas. In addition, John and his partners expanded into media acquisitions. He, Johnny, and Buddy purchased interests such as KVKI radio in Shreveport and other shares in Mid-South Media.
Never satisfied with past success, John Nay broke new ground in East Texas by acquiring, first, Coors of Nacogdoches and later Coors of Shreveport. Few know that John Nay Thomas was the youngest person to have ever been awarded such a distributorship, which is testimony to his incredible personal ability and his business genius. He operated these businesses while still keeping his day-to-day input into his other ventures. He and Triple J went on to acquire local properties such as the Bank One Building, Glover-Crim, and other local prime properties. With his ties to former real estate investors in Dallas, he established the Longview operation of Beer-Wells Real Estate Services with his partners and his childhood friend, Walter Northcutt. John always believed in developing the Longview area, but he loved and remained loyal to the downtown Longview that his father helped to establish.
In the early 1990?s, John formed partnerships with another longtime friend, Berry King, and together they forged an entire new face to Longview retail and commercial property. John Nay and Berry brought about the major shopping complex located at 4th Street and Loop 281 and brought in some of the nation?s largest retailers. They, along with other partners, continued their operation and development of this area. John?s first interest was not his own. It was for his hometown and making it better. His and Berry?s partnership produced other Longview investments and acquisitions such at The Energy Center, Hensley Plaza, and the revolutionary overhaul of an abandoned retailer. When Lowe?s vacated their location on Loop 281, John led a group of investors who purchased the site, and he oversaw the renovation and rehabilitation of the Old Lowe?s into what is now Longview Plaza. He, along with Johnny and Berry, expanded to develop and acquire properties in Tyler and other East Texas communities.
John never sought publicity and asked for no glory. In fact, John shunned the limelight and kept himself very humble. He was the first to contribute to a charity, but the last to have his name published. He was the first to call when a need was there. He was the friend who never needed to be called; he knew those who needed him and responded. He cared without anyone ever having to ask. He was frugal, almost to a delight, but was generous to those in need, almost to a fault. To the hundreds of friends he loved, he gave his all; and all he asked in return was honest friendship.
He deeply loved his parents, his sister, his brother, his nephew, and his dear friends who loved him and stayed close. He loved his cousins and extended family in an overwhelming way. He was loyal, caring, devoted, and kind. And, he dearly loved his wife, Gail and his children. They were his focus.
John is survived by his wife, Gail and his children, Mary Margaret, Lydia Marie, John Allen, and Austin, along with his mother, Mrs. Margaret Jabour Thomas, his sister, Barbara Thomas Strunk, his brother, George Preston Thomas, and his nephew, Ivey Strunk, and a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins who were very dear to him. He was preceded in death by his father, Naseep Thomas. He was a lifelong member of First Christian Church of Longview.
Visitation will be Tuesday, January 21, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Rader Funeral Home. Memorial services will be held Wednesday, January 22, at 10 a.m. at the First Christian Church, Longview, Texas.
The family requests that donations be made to First Christian Church Building Fund, in memory of John N. Thomas, 720 N. 6th Street, Longview, TX 75601
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