Mr. William Thomas, Jr. took his place in the realm of Glory on October 23, 2010.

Mr. Thomas served on the Board of Houston Bible Institute and subsequently the College of Biblical Studies from 1979 until 1998 and continued as Chairman Emeritus until his death.

Dr. Ernest Mays was the founder of the College in 1979 and became the Chancellor until his death in 2000.  Dr. Mays furnished the vision —- but Mr. Thomas provided the glue.  They were both very critical elements especially during the early formative years of the life of the College.

Mr. Thomas provided the glue.  What does it take to be “the glue?”  First, presence.  Presence is that quality of life also called stature and respect and esteem and poise and carriage.  When Mr. Thomas talked, people listened.  When there was tension or rancor, Mr. Thomas always managed to have some oil to pour on troubled waters.  He was the oil that kept critical members of the governing team from seizing up and ceasing to work together.

The second quality was wisdom.  Mr. Thomas was a wise man.  Some would say the proof of that wisdom was his ability to become a college professor at a significant university early in his life (Fisk University).  Others would identify the fact that he assembled not only the money, but also the skilled personnel to start Unity Bank, the only African American owned bank in Texas.  And while that is a significant achievement, that is not the wisdom of which I speak.  Ephesians 5:15 says, “Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time (seizing every opportunity) because the days are evil.”

Mr. Thomas understood how precious his time was in the battle of the Kingdom of God against the kingdom of this world.  As a result, he invested his life wholeheartedly into the war for the souls and minds of men.  He gave lavishly of his time, energy, and resources to CBS.  At one very critical juncture — our first capital campaign for buying a campus — he personally wrote a check for $25,000.  While Mr. Thomas was an affluent businessman, he was not wealthy.  That gift was a sacrificial gift for the Kingdom of his Lord Jesus Christ.  Mr. Thomas was a wise man.

Lastly, Mr. Thomas always manifested the quality of godly love.  If Bill Thomas touched your life, you felt the touch of Christ’s love.  I personally experienced this love when the CBS Board was considering hiring me to lead the College in 1991.  Without his strong advocacy, I would never have become President.  “By this, all men will know that you are my disciples; if you have love for one another.”  John 13:35

Mr. Thomas is now rejoicing in Glory in the presence of his beloved Lord.  And one of the major causes of his rejoicing is the 10,000+ lives that CBS has touched because of the life and ministry of William Thomas, Jr.  Hundreds and hundreds of those 10,000+ utilized the skills and knowledge they received at CBS to become missionaries in foreign lands, pastors of churches, youth pastors, deacons, elders, etc.  Each of these leaders keeps on replicating and reproducing themselves year after year.  What an incredible legacy!

Thank you, Mr. Thomas for your touch upon our lives.  To God be the Glory!

William D. Boyd
Chancellor