Gerald W. Thomas
Gerald W. Thomas (July 3, 1919 – July 31, 2013) was President Emeritus of New Mexico State University, a World War II veteran, and an author.
He was born on the Daniel Thomas ranch on Medicine Lodge Creek in Small, Idaho, the second oldest of six sons. He finished high school in Pasadena, California, at John Muir High School, then attended Pasadena Junior College. He earned a B.S. in Forestry from the University of Idaho in 1941. He later earned an M.S. in Wildlife Management in 1951 and a Ph.D. in Wildlife Management in 1954 from Texas A&M University (then called Range Management).
He volunteered for the Navy in 1942 and served as a dive-bomber pilot in World War II. He flew with Torpedo Squadron Four on the USS Ranger, and later served on the USS Bunker Hill and USS Essex. He participated in numerous Pacific battles, including Operation Leader and attacks on the Philippines, Formosa, and Japan. He survived a challenging water landing and was rescued after engine trouble, and was aboard the Essex when it was hit by a kamikaze. For his actions, he earned three Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Air Medals, and two Presidential Unit Citations.
In higher education, he became the 17th president of New Mexico State University and the second-longest-serving president. Under his leadership, the university grew substantially in faculty and student numbers across the main campus and branch campuses. He was also an author.
Thomas died on July 31, 2013, at the age of 94.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 11:34 (CET).