The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., August 22, 1996, page 5

JOHN THOMAS CHRISTOPHER

     John Christopher Thomas, 51, of White Salmon passed away August 13, 1996.
     He was born December 31, 1944, to Marjorie (Bodine) and Robert A. Thomas, in Chicago, Ill. John grew up in St. Joseph, Missouri, where he loved fishing and scouting and became an Eagle Scout. He moved to Seattle with his family in 1961 and attended the University of Washington, majoring in communications. In 1966 John married Kathryn Bovee.
     He was co-founder of the magazine, "Western Washington Fishing Holes", and was writer and editor from 1974 to 1982. They moved to White Salmon in 1982, where he wrote free-lance for various publications and became the director of marketing for Luhr Jensen & Sons in 1985.
     John wrote outdoor articles for The White Salmon Enterprise, Hood River News, The Goldendale Sentinel and was a monthly featured guest on KIHR's Mid-Columbia Today. He also was president and founder of the White Salmon River Steel Headers and actively involved in political issues dealing with fishing resources, a member of the Snowden Community Council, Jewett Creek Stream Keepers, Hood River Watershed group, advisor to Columbia River Gorge Commission and Columbia River Advisory Committee for Washington Dept. of Fisheries.
     John enjoyed all kinds of fishing and hiking into high mountain lakes and planted fish in numerous high country lakes in Washington. He was a major proponent of the Tiger Muskie program in Washington state. In June 1996, he received an award from the Washington State Dept. of Fish & Wildlife in recognition of the tremendous contributions he made to fisheries resources of Washington through 32 years of outstanding volunteer service. John maintained close relations with the fisheries school at the University of Washington and in 1989 wrote a chapter, "Fresh Water Fishing", for one of their textbooks, still in use by the department.
     He is survived by his wife, Kathy of White Salmon; parents, the Rev. and Mrs. Robert A. Thomas of Indianapolis, Ind.; daughter, Janette Thomas of White Salmon; sisters, Judy Christianson of Seattle and Karen Foley of Portland; two nieces, one nephew and numerous friends and colleagues.
     Funeral services were held Aug. 17, 1996 at the Bethel Congregational Church in White Salmon. Officiating was Rev. Sigmund Pedlozny, Jr. Contributions may be given to the White Salmon River Steel Headers, c/o Gardner Funeral Home, P.O. Box 390, White Salmon, Wash. 98672.

The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., August 22, 1996, page 16

JOHN THOMAS

     John Christopher Thomas, The Enterprise's outdoor columnist, died of cancer on Aug. 13, 1996, in White Salmon, at the age of 51.
     Mr. Thomas was born Dec. 31, 1944, in Chicago, Ill., to Marjorie (Bodine) and Robert A. Thomas. He grew up in. St. Joseph, Mo. He loved fishing and scouting and became an Eagle Scout. He moved to Seattle with his family in 1961. He attended the University of Washington, majoring in communications.
     In 1966, he married Kathryn Bovee. Mr. Thomas was co-founder of the magazine Western Washington Fishing Holes and served as the magazine's writer and editor from 1974 to 1982.
     He moved to White Salmon in 1982, where he wrote free-lance for various publications. He became director of marketing for Luhr Jensen & Sons in 1985. He wrote outdoor articles for The White Salmon Enterprise, Hood River News and Goldendale Sentinel and was a monthly featured guest on KIHR's Mid-Columbia Today.
     Mr. Thomas was president and founder of White Salmon River Steelheaders and was actively in-volved in political issues dealing with fishing resources. He was a member of the Snowden Community Council, Jewett Creek Streamkeepers, Hood River Watershed Group, advisor to the Columbia River Gorge Commission and the Columbia River Advisory Committee for Washington Department of Fisheries.
     He enjoyed all kinds of fishing and hiking into high mountain lakes. He planted fish in numerous high country lakes in Washington and was a major proponent of the Tiger Muskie program in Washington state. In June 1996, he received an award from the Washington state Department of Fish & Wildlife in recognition of the tremendous contributions he made to fisheries resources of Washington through 32 years of outstanding volunteer service.
     Mr. Thomas maintained close relations with the Fisheries School at the University of Washington and in 1989 wrote a chapter, "Fresh Water Fishing," for one of their textbooks which is still in use by the department.
     He is survived by his wife, Kathy, White Salmon; parents the Rev. and Mrs. Robert A. Thomas, Indianapolis, Md.; daughter, Janette Thomas, White Salmon; sisters Judy Christianson, Seattle, and Karen Foley, Portland; two nieces, one nephew, numerous friends and colleagues.
     Services for Mr. Thomas were held Saturday, Aug. 17, 1996, at 2 p.m. at Bethel Congregational Church in White Salmon, with Rev. Sigmund Podlozny, Jr. officiating.
     Interment was private.
     Memorials may be given to White Salmon River Steelheaders in care of Gardner Funeral Home in White Salmon, who was in charge of the arrangements.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer