History of James Lawrence Thomas
"Mr. Jim", as the namesake of this school was known by the citizens of Plano, was known throughout the more than 60 years that he lived in Plano as an unselfish humanitarian. He provided food and shelter not only for his own family of 11 children, but also for the children of other families, both African American and white.
Mr. Thomas opened the first laundry service in the city, provided janitorial service for most of the downtown businesses and found time to be Plano's first African American fireman. He died in 1968 at the age of 78.
