Glenn Arnold Thomas passed away in Eugene, OR on July 1, 2018 at the age of 77. Glenn was born to Arnold J and Julia (Hood) Thomas on April 16, 1941 in Sequim, Washington. He graduated high school in Coquille, OR in 1959.
Glenn ran a successful multi-faceted family business. He was very forward thinking and always looking for ways to improve his business. Glenn and his father Arnold started Thomas and Sons in 1956 with a custom reload business for forest products.
On September 15, 1962 Glenn married Sharon L. Liles in Coquille, Oregon. In 1967 The Thomas family expanded and purchased North Bend Distributing, a beer and wine distributor. In the early 1970’s the Oregon Bottle Bill was initiated, and Thomas and Sons founded the recycling division that was responsible for collecting returned bottles and cans in their area.
In 1972 the Thomas family expanded again with the addition of a trucking company. The trucking company allowed the business to haul their own products as well as other distributors products throughout Oregon and Washington In 1975 Arnold Thomas retired and Glenn and Sharon purchased his stock, keeping the family business going. Thomas and Sons purchased Cutlip Distributing, the oldest beer wholesale license in the state of Oregon.
By the late 1980s, the recycling division began buying and processing cardboard, newsprint, computer, and office waste paper. The company continued to grow and thrive over the next two decades, and in 2000 merged with the Morgan Family, subsequently changing the name to Premier Distributing. Glenn Thomas retired on October 1, 2007 selling the beverage company to Columbia Distributing.
The trucking company was then acquired by Aaron Thomas. Glenn was a member of several organizations and received recognition for his service to the business community. Glenn was heavily involved in the Oregon Beer and Wine Distributors Association from 1975 to 1982.
He served as President, Vice President and Trustee during this time period. He served on the Board of The National Beer Wholesalers and The Rocky Mountain Wholesalers Board. Glenn was one of three Distributors who was instrumental in the passage of the Beer Franchise Law.
In 1991 Glenn was recognized by the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce for his years of service to the business community. Glenn was honored to serve on several boards during his professional life. From 1995 to 2000 he served on the Security Bank Board, the Independent Financial Network Bank Board and Alliance Technology, Inc. Board from 2000-2001.
In 1999 he was honored by the Coos Bay Chamber of Commerce as Chambers Business of the year. Glenn served on the fundraising committee board for the Boys and Girls Club of Southwestern Oregon. The goal of the committee was to raise funds to build a Boys and Girls Club to benefit the youth of Coos County.
In-between his community involvement and his career, Glenn loved watching the Oregon Ducks (every sport), woodworking, golfing with friends, gardening, traveling, and spending time at his home in La Quinta, CA. He loved watching all his grandchildren in their activities. Glenn is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sharon Thomas; sisters Joye Olson and Cheryl Gardiner; sons Brett Thomas (Krystal) and Aaron Thomas (Kelly); daughters Lori Absalon (Erik) and Julie Rissberger (Steve); grandchildren Brice and Marlee Absalon, Emily and Reed Rissberger, Ella, Brock, and Brody Thomas, Logan Kamille and Kianna Thomas; and great-grandson Coral Thomas, three step grandchildren, three step great-grandchildren 3, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Gathering will be held on Friday, July 13, 2018 from 1-3:00 PM at the Autzen Stadium Club Room, 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Eugene, OR 97401. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Pete Moore Hospice House via Cascade Health Foundation, 2650 Suzanne Way Suite 200, Eugene, OR 97408. To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Glenn Thomas, please visit our Tribute Store.
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