A native of Youngstown, Ohio, he played scholastically at nearby Chaney High school.
During his four-year stay on the YSU campus, he played #1 or #2 singles behind Penguin Hall of Famer Bill Dunn. The team posted a 40-10 overall mark from 1976 to 1979 with Thomas as a key member who posted a 41-8 singles mark, and a 43-6 doubles ledger with partners Rob Adsit, Kurt Kamperman and Denny Bianco.
During the "Thomas Era" at YSU, the tennis team posted a high water mark of 10-1 in 1977 and 16-2 in 1978, going 8-2 in 1979 as they won 34 of their last 39 matches with Thomas as a team member.
He was a finalist in second flight singles and doubles for the 1979 squad, a team which won the M.C.C. (Mid-Continent Conference) championship. He was the 1978 M.C.C. singles championship as well.
He earned his BS degree in computer science in 1983 from YSU, and then earned his MBA in management in 1987.
Upon graduation, he joined the European Tennis Circuit and was rated as high as number two by the United States Tennis Association (NEOTA) rankings. Among numerous individual tennis victories, he won the 1979 Ohio Hard-court Championships.
He is currently working with Sharon Steel as a project manager with Information Services.
He is married to the former Carol Sandy, and they are the parents of three children; Jeffrey (6), Lauren (4) and Natalie (2).
