William "Bill" George Thomas
September 13, 1925 — September 29, 2020
William (Bill) George Thomas (9/13/1925 – 09/29/2020), age 95, formerly of Escanaba, MI, Chicago and Lake Forest, Ill., and Gulfstream and Boynton Beach, FL, passed away peacefully amongst family in the early morning hours of September 29. He was preceded in passing by his loving wife, Helen Joan (Ruskell) of 67 years (2015), and grandson Shaun David Thomas (2007). Bill was a WW II veteran having served in the U.S. Merchant Marine (MM). Bill had a hard early life in the Upper Michigan peninsula town of Escanaba close to Lake Michigan where he developed a love for the water. At the age of 18, Bill enlisted in the MM where he served in support of Gen. MacArthur’s Southern Pacific campaign, and helped deliver goods to England to support the D-Day invasion. Bill served nine tours in active war zones, and was honorably discharged in 1946.
After being discharged from the MM, and desiring a better future, Bill moved to Chicago working his first job at Esquire magazine under the supervision of his future wife Joan whom he would soon marry after one day proclaiming to her that ‘she had the nicest legs, and that he’d marry her one day’ to which she replied ‘yeah, right’. Their floor manager and supervisor at that time was Hugh Hefner, who soon resigned to create his Playboy empire. Bill attended night school and earned a business degree from Northwestern University. His next business ventures were in sales, specifically packaging, including promoting the benefits of paper pulp and Styrofoam egg cartons. His early career included short stints in Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland before settling permanently in the Chicagoland area. Bill worked in sales for the following companies, many Chicago-based: Self-Locking Carton Company, ShellMar, General Packaging, Diamond National, and finally Diamond International where he became Vice President (VP) of the Packaging Division. Bill traveled internationally, and throughout the US, visiting hen operations to promote innovative packaging to reduce egg breakage. In the mid-1960s, the family moved from the Chicago suburb of Lincolnwood to Lake Forest following his promotion to VP. In the early 1970s, he and a fellow co-worker left Diamond to form their own company, Creative Industries, where Bill continued to promote the benefits of Styrofoam egg cartons.
In 1975, Bill decided to be his own boss, leave sales and Chicago, and seek new ventures by purchasing a 200-seat night club in Boynton Beach, FL on SW 23rd Ave near the FEC railroad tracks called the Cellar (1975-6) and later Bill Thomas’ (1977-1979). After Bill sold the restaurant, it was called the Chuck Wagon. Each of his offspring had a short stint working in the club as chef, bartender, hostess, server or busboy. Unfortunately, it never gained fame as Palm Beach Co. and Boynton Beach were still quaint and less populated, and ‘snowbirds’ still only traveled US 1 for dinner spots. His main competitors were Gentleman Jim’s and Tropical Acres. However, his club did stay open until 5 AM, and was quite popular with some of the Miami Dolphins including the late Bob Kuechenberg. Bill even held a wedding party for Bob Kuechenberg at Bill’s Place Au Soleil Gulfstream home. Notable Cellar and Bill Thomas’ headliners included the Jimmy Cavallo Band, and, yes, even Tiny Tim made an appearance with his ukulele performing ‘Tip Toe Thru the Tulips’.
In 1979, Bill sold the restaurant, and ventured into real estate where he learned the basics under the tutelage of Curt Field of Delray Beach. Bill eventually made his mark in commercial real estate listing and selling hundreds of bars, nightclubs, package good stores, and restaurants from Okeechobee and St. Lucie Co. south to Broward Co. for Bill Thomas Realty. Bill still held active mortgage broker and commercial real estate licenses, and still occasionally sold businesses into his early 90s. Throughout the 1980s, Bill also owned or co-owned with his partner, Rick DeJohn, up to six bars and package good stores from St. Lucie to Broward Co., the most notorious being the Georgia Town Tavern in Delray Beach, and the Blue Chip Inn in Deerfield Beach where regulars simply referred to him as ‘Mr. Bill’. For a time during this period, he specialized in selling or securing liquor licenses before they became widely available and less valuable. Bill also had side businesses selling concert and sports event tickets, and even ran a sports parlay business.
Bill loved sports, all Chicago, being a season ticket holder for the Chicago Blackhawks, Bears and Cubs and even the St. Louis Blues in their inaugural season. Shortly after WW II, Bill got coveted season tickets for the Green Bay Packers, which he held to the end passing to son Ed. After moving to FL, Bill had season tickets for the Miami Dolphins, spring training tickets in West Palm Beach for the Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos, and in Jupiter, for the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins. Bill loved to golf several days a week with his wife Joan and friends, and was heavily involved in numerous bowling leagues throughout Palm Beach Co. Bill also served as a youth baseball and softball umpire for Palm Beach County for over 20 years until giving it up around the age of 87. Bill loved all types of music but was especially fond of jazz. He and Joan regularly headed south to Miami to listen to jazz at the Biltmore, or to North Miami Beach to hear Woody Allen’s New Orleans Ragtime Band. Bill and Joan traveled to Hawaii for major anniversary milestones, and annually, for food and fun to Las Vegas and New Orleans. He also had a love for antique, classic and muscle cars driving a 2017 Grabber Blue Mustang EcoBoost until his death.
In his semi-retirement, Bill spent many days a month visiting local MM vets in Hospice or in nursing homes. One of the best days in his life, he later stated, was participating in the Honor Flight to Washington, DC with other veterans. Special thanks to the PBCO fire fighter whom served as his chaperone. Bill always did whatever it took to support his family. His story would not be complete if not acknowledging that he was an Alcoholics Anonymous member and sponsor for 56+ years helping many individuals achieve their path to sobriety.
He is survived by his son Edward Thomas and daughter in law Barbara Wizer-Thomas of Seattle; daughters Pat Baker and Deborah Thomas of Boynton Beach; son William G. Thomas, Jr, of Boynton Beach; granddaughters Lisa Thomas of Delray Beach and Kim (Oscar) Vilchez of Boynton Beach; great grandson Forrest Logan Vilchez; and step-daughter Marsha Miller of New York City. We hope you find eternal peace and happiness, and may you fly with Joan again in heaven.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Monday, October 5, 2020 at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach followed by a private ceremony at the South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth, Florida, in honor of his war service, and to reunite with his love Joan. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to Vitas Hospice.
After being discharged from the MM, and desiring a better future, Bill moved to Chicago working his first job at Esquire magazine under the supervision of his future wife Joan whom he would soon marry after one day proclaiming to her that ‘she had the nicest legs, and that he’d marry her one day’ to which she replied ‘yeah, right’. Their floor manager and supervisor at that time was Hugh Hefner, who soon resigned to create his Playboy empire. Bill attended night school and earned a business degree from Northwestern University. His next business ventures were in sales, specifically packaging, including promoting the benefits of paper pulp and Styrofoam egg cartons. His early career included short stints in Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland before settling permanently in the Chicagoland area. Bill worked in sales for the following companies, many Chicago-based: Self-Locking Carton Company, ShellMar, General Packaging, Diamond National, and finally Diamond International where he became Vice President (VP) of the Packaging Division. Bill traveled internationally, and throughout the US, visiting hen operations to promote innovative packaging to reduce egg breakage. In the mid-1960s, the family moved from the Chicago suburb of Lincolnwood to Lake Forest following his promotion to VP. In the early 1970s, he and a fellow co-worker left Diamond to form their own company, Creative Industries, where Bill continued to promote the benefits of Styrofoam egg cartons.
In 1975, Bill decided to be his own boss, leave sales and Chicago, and seek new ventures by purchasing a 200-seat night club in Boynton Beach, FL on SW 23rd Ave near the FEC railroad tracks called the Cellar (1975-6) and later Bill Thomas’ (1977-1979). After Bill sold the restaurant, it was called the Chuck Wagon. Each of his offspring had a short stint working in the club as chef, bartender, hostess, server or busboy. Unfortunately, it never gained fame as Palm Beach Co. and Boynton Beach were still quaint and less populated, and ‘snowbirds’ still only traveled US 1 for dinner spots. His main competitors were Gentleman Jim’s and Tropical Acres. However, his club did stay open until 5 AM, and was quite popular with some of the Miami Dolphins including the late Bob Kuechenberg. Bill even held a wedding party for Bob Kuechenberg at Bill’s Place Au Soleil Gulfstream home. Notable Cellar and Bill Thomas’ headliners included the Jimmy Cavallo Band, and, yes, even Tiny Tim made an appearance with his ukulele performing ‘Tip Toe Thru the Tulips’.
In 1979, Bill sold the restaurant, and ventured into real estate where he learned the basics under the tutelage of Curt Field of Delray Beach. Bill eventually made his mark in commercial real estate listing and selling hundreds of bars, nightclubs, package good stores, and restaurants from Okeechobee and St. Lucie Co. south to Broward Co. for Bill Thomas Realty. Bill still held active mortgage broker and commercial real estate licenses, and still occasionally sold businesses into his early 90s. Throughout the 1980s, Bill also owned or co-owned with his partner, Rick DeJohn, up to six bars and package good stores from St. Lucie to Broward Co., the most notorious being the Georgia Town Tavern in Delray Beach, and the Blue Chip Inn in Deerfield Beach where regulars simply referred to him as ‘Mr. Bill’. For a time during this period, he specialized in selling or securing liquor licenses before they became widely available and less valuable. Bill also had side businesses selling concert and sports event tickets, and even ran a sports parlay business.
Bill loved sports, all Chicago, being a season ticket holder for the Chicago Blackhawks, Bears and Cubs and even the St. Louis Blues in their inaugural season. Shortly after WW II, Bill got coveted season tickets for the Green Bay Packers, which he held to the end passing to son Ed. After moving to FL, Bill had season tickets for the Miami Dolphins, spring training tickets in West Palm Beach for the Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos, and in Jupiter, for the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins. Bill loved to golf several days a week with his wife Joan and friends, and was heavily involved in numerous bowling leagues throughout Palm Beach Co. Bill also served as a youth baseball and softball umpire for Palm Beach County for over 20 years until giving it up around the age of 87. Bill loved all types of music but was especially fond of jazz. He and Joan regularly headed south to Miami to listen to jazz at the Biltmore, or to North Miami Beach to hear Woody Allen’s New Orleans Ragtime Band. Bill and Joan traveled to Hawaii for major anniversary milestones, and annually, for food and fun to Las Vegas and New Orleans. He also had a love for antique, classic and muscle cars driving a 2017 Grabber Blue Mustang EcoBoost until his death.
In his semi-retirement, Bill spent many days a month visiting local MM vets in Hospice or in nursing homes. One of the best days in his life, he later stated, was participating in the Honor Flight to Washington, DC with other veterans. Special thanks to the PBCO fire fighter whom served as his chaperone. Bill always did whatever it took to support his family. His story would not be complete if not acknowledging that he was an Alcoholics Anonymous member and sponsor for 56+ years helping many individuals achieve their path to sobriety.
He is survived by his son Edward Thomas and daughter in law Barbara Wizer-Thomas of Seattle; daughters Pat Baker and Deborah Thomas of Boynton Beach; son William G. Thomas, Jr, of Boynton Beach; granddaughters Lisa Thomas of Delray Beach and Kim (Oscar) Vilchez of Boynton Beach; great grandson Forrest Logan Vilchez; and step-daughter Marsha Miller of New York City. We hope you find eternal peace and happiness, and may you fly with Joan again in heaven.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Monday, October 5, 2020 at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach followed by a private ceremony at the South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth, Florida, in honor of his war service, and to reunite with his love Joan. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to Vitas Hospice.
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