Steve and Bobbie Thomas: One Life at a Time Changed by Generosity

Fall, 2012

The cord of Steve and Bobbie Thomas's generosity is woven of three strands: personal history, individual ability and giving back. "I grew up in Lynchburg, and we were relatively poor," Steve recalls. "The Y was where I learned to swim and started playing basketball. But I don't know who paid."

When Steve looks back at his life, he sees a hand guiding him. He went to a camp for underprivileged children and was selected the outstanding camper. He was then invited to be a counselor. Little did he know that other counselors were basketball players from Roanoke College. And the camp director was the college coach. Thanks to daily pickup games, Steve's game improved and he became a three-year starter at basketball powerhouse E. C. Glass High School. His coach, Jimmy Bryan, was a lifelong friend until the coach passed away a few years ago.

"I've had a lot of people who have helped me, an unbelievable number of people, and I want to give back, especially to children. My heart is with the children," Steve says.

When Steve moved to Richmond, he saw how services for youth could be strengthened at the Tuckahoe Family Y. Such ideas come naturally to him. Whether in his role as an industrial engineer at Reynolds Metals, as a father of five, or as a grandfather of ten, Steve says, "I like to solve problems." So he volunteered to be on the Tuckahoe Y Board of Management to improve youth services.

His natural ability to solve problems played a pivotal role in the history of the Tuckahoe Y. In 1979, when that branch was in danger of being closed, Karl Wagner and Steve conducted a market study to determine the economic impact of enclosing the outdoor pool at the Y. The results were promising. In a dramatic meeting, they met with the Association Board of Directors, which was persuaded to enclose the pool and keep the Tuckahoe Y open.

One of the many beneficiaries of that decision is Steve's wife Bobbie. She is especially grateful for the water aerobics that helped her recover from two shoulder surgeries. "The people who run the Y, the volunteers and people who benefit—all are great," she says.

Assessing his professional and volunteer career, Steve says, "I feel like I've been guided to positions where I can make a difference." As he puts it, "We try to help one person at a time." Through Steve and Bobbie's support of Y college scholarships, a young woman was able to attend college and graduated magna cum laude. She is now a social worker assisting children in Richmond. A second recipient graduated cum laude. They plan to give a third scholarship this year.

One life at a time changed by generosity—that's what Steve and Bobbie Thomas are committed to. As members of the 1854 Society, the three-strand cord of their generosity will not be broken.