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Roger Thomas Obituary
Roger Keith Thomas
Roger Keith Thomas (79) passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, in Alexandria, VA. He is survived by his loving wife and companion, Maryalice Brown Thomas, brother Brooks Thomas, wife Theresa, nephews, David Allan Thomas, John Patrick Thomas, wife Christine, and adored grandniece, Annie Autumn and was predeceased by his brother, Jon Kent Thomas, MD.
Keith was born in 1944 to John M. Thomas and Autumn D. Thomas in Louisville, KY. He started his basketball career at Waggener High School and earned a full scholarship to Vanderbilt University. During 1962-1966 he was a proud member of the Commodores, winning the Southeastern Conference Championship, competing in the Elite Eight, and establishing school records which still stand. Keith was named All American and was drafted by the LA Lakers, but instead attended and graduated from Vanderbilt Law School.
Keith began his accomplished legal career as the Deputy Clerk in Nashville, TN. Over the next nine years, he served as an attorney specializing in International Trade with U.S. Customs Service in Washington, DC, instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, member of Special Customs Working Group for the President and representative for the United States at the World Customs Organization in Brussels.
Keith joined law firms McClure & Trotter then Rose, Schmidt, Dixon & Hasley, specializing in international trade law then returned to government service at the Office of Professional Responsibility. For 16 years Keith worked as Senior Associate Counsel investigating highly sensitive matters at the federal level.
After retirement Keith joined the ABA's Central and Eastern European Law Initiative (CEELI) as an in-country liaison in Sophia, Bulgaria, and in Prague. He assisted Bulgaria with the rule of law, drafted an ethics code for attorneys, was principal author of the Legal Professional Reform Index, and evaluated ethics codes for Romania, Georgia, and Ukraine. In Prague, he served as the Country Director for CEELI, establishing rule of law training for attorneys and judges. Keith returned to the Department of Justice as a consultant, then as an attorney at the US Legal Services Corporation.
Keith was a lifelong sports fan and participant-playing competitive golf and tennis, softball on the Harvey Wallbangers, completing a Marine Corp Marathon, and jogging 500 miles each year.
Keith loved the law and athletics, but above all, he loved his family and his wide circle of friends that spanned a lifetime. He and Maryalice lived life to the fullest, having fun along the way, traveling the world, and enjoying beach life at Bethany Beach, DE, and St. Augustine, FL.
Keith was a good man who touched many lives with his generosity, unassuming manner, wisdom, and kindness. He was a reader, writer, mentor, and learner, always searching for new challenges. He will be greatly missed.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to The MSA Coalition and Everybody Wins DC.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Roger Thomas
6 Entries
Butch Riley, Waggener Class of '64
October 18, 2023
I played basketball with Keith at Waggener where he was the best all around player on the '62 team that had lots of talent. He could do it all in a quiet unassuming way - score, rebound, defend, hustle, battle. Although Keith was truly a "star" winning many individual awards and accolades, he played every game for the team. He was a great teammate and an even greater person. The words crafted by his friends in his obituary summed up Keith perfectly.
Michael Marquette, WHS class of `87
October 17, 2023
On behalf of the Waggener High School Alumni Association, our deepest condolences to an extremely distinguished member of our Hall of Fame. Keith exemplifies a life lived to the fullest in every facet of what it means to be child of God - utilizing every gift given. Prayers to family and friends.
Peter Carman
October 10, 2023
Maryalice, please accept my deepest condolences on the loss of Keith, a great mentor and a truly kind person. I met Keith in my early 20s when I came to work in 1996 as part of the Attorney General´s honors program for paralegals, with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Professional Responsibility. Keith was my second supervisor as a professional, after only being on the job for relatively short time, and stands out as the best boss I have ever had. I took the paralegal job, after graduating from an undergraduate program at UW-Madison, in part, to determine whether or not I wanted to go to law school and become a lawyer. Keith took it upon himself to see that I progressed beyond just being a paralegal to being sort of an assistant lawyer - allowing me to go on investigations and even do initial drafts of reports. He often talked with me about work and life (but, most importantly, modeled for me), maturity, and doing things to be a better man. When I was two years into the paralegal program, he help me in anyway he could to get into one of the local law schools with an evening program, and when it came time to take the Wisconsin Bar Exam, Keith made sure I had all the paid time off I needed to prepare. What I´m trying to get at is he was much more than a boss to me, and really more of a father figure. I will never forget him and often think back fondly on our time together. I think everyone who has known Keith can say they´re a better person for having had the privilege, me being chief among them.
King Buttermore
October 1, 2023
Dear Maryalice, our love to you. It was a true honor to have been a classmate and lifelong friend to Keith, as fine a man as there is. King and Karen Buttermore
Craig Walker and Alice Maloney
September 29, 2023
Alice & I are very saddened to hear of Keith's passing. I was one of his co-workers at U.S. Customs for a number of years and we became friends. Alice and I socialized with Keith & Maryalice many times during our working years and very much enjoyed their friendship & the good times we always had together. Keith was a very positive person with an upbeat attitude and an almost constant smile on his face. He loved to laugh. He surely will be missed by all who were lucky enough to know him.
Kathy Brasiskis
September 29, 2023
Maryalice, What an outstanding tribute to an such an accomplished man.
RIP KT
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