WORLD OF COAL ASH (WOCA) - May 4-7, 2009 in Lexington, Kentucky
Barton Aikman Thomas - Biographical Notes
For Excellence in the Field of Ash Research
Best Oral Presentation presented at WOCA
The Barton A. Thomas Memorial Award
Sponsored by the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research and made possible by Virginia Thomas
Barton Aikman Thomas, or Bart Thomas as he was called by those who knew him, was born in Cayuga, Indiana, on January 12, 1928, but grew up in Chicago. At 17, he enlisted with the U.S. Navy during WWII and was sent to the Pacific. After his tour of duty, he then joined the Marines.
Under the GI Bill, he went to Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, graduating in 1949, and further studied at Northeastern in Chicago. While working at the Chicago Board of Trade, he was offered a position in Kansas City selling grain. But not for long! His father, who owned a sand and gravel business in Dayton, Ohio, let Bart buy into the company, "Dayton Sand and Gravel." Business acquaintances in Chicago introduced him to flyash, and in the mid-50's Bart added Dayton Flyash Co. to the sand and gravel business. Dayton Power and Light wanted to be rid of their flyash and paid Dayton Flyash to take it away! In the 60's Ayrshire Colleries bought out the company, and they, in turn, were acquired by AMEX in the early 70's and became known as AMEX Resource Recovery Systems.
In 1978, Bart left AMEX, started Ash Management Systems, and won a large contract with Houston Light and Power. Dennis Jones and, shortly thereafter, Lou Marcuz joined partnership with Bart Thomas in 1980 as Bart started JTM Industries. This was a holding company for Ash Management Systems, KBK Corporation, and Mineral ByProducts Corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia. Ten years later, the entirety of JTM was sold to Union Pacific and Bart retired.
During his career, Mr. Thomas was instrumental in the promotion of flyash into US concrete products. Additionally, he patented a method of extinguishing old coal mine fires. The process involved boring holes and smothering the fire with flyash. Organizations such as the Department of Interior eventually used the method in their processes.
Bart passed away April 1995 leaving his wife, Virginia, and two daughters, Sarah McCullough and Martha Land.