US 3 – I am That Dave Thomas

My name is A. David Thomas. The “A” is for Alvin. I’m currently 73 years old and have spent my life being a husband, a father and “A Teacher.” I really have had a wonderful life (That was movie quote – there will be many more).

This is me in 1943 with my Dad W. Alvin Thomas, I was very young and had a lot to learn.

This is me when I was becoming me and learning how to avoid bullies – hey it’s a real skill. This is an early picture of the “Blond Bombshell.”

This is me as a Soldier – the bullies weren’t frightened by the uniform – I should have brought my M1. I was trained in how to use a howitzer. Scared, yet?

This is me as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that’s right – I’m a Mormon. This is my soon to be wife at 18. She’s a Mormon too, or at least that what she told me.

This is Us as a couple in 1965, just before we got married. We went from here –

To here (50 years later). That’s where we got married – The Salt Lake City Temple

This happened And from here to –

And then

All of these people are Mormons – and you thought it was only the Romney’s and the Osmond’s. – Yep we’re Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). As one noble soul put it – “Yes siree; dyed in the wool; true blue, through and through.”1. And Depending on how you do the Genetic math, I’m a 3rd generation or maybe I’m a fifth generation one, depending on how you link cousins (My paternal great, great, great grand mother was a Mormon). My wife one ups me even better, her blood definitely kept company with Joseph Smith and gallumped behind Brigham Young to the Great Salt Lake. There are all kinds of Mormons, how else could you explain the Yin and Yang of Mitt Romney and Harry Reid. Jack Dempsey and Gene Fulmer (boxing champions) were Mormons; of course there are the Osmond’s and Gladys Knight who are just some of the singing Mormons (We have got a lot of them); we even have a Mormon who was a Munchkin (Kind of) – Billy Barty. 2.

Billy Barty in Willow with Warwick Davis in 1988

I want you to know I am a believing Mormon because the Mormon’s view of life, and it is a big view – is up beat, positive and this faith drives our perspective of life for not only me, but from my view – you as well. Mormons are far from perfect – everyone of us are flawed, but, we believe, if we choose, we can step past our weaknesses and step up and become our better self. Life has an ultimate purpose – to mold us, over time and eternity into happiness. And most of us know we can do better, but thanks to the Grace of Jesus there is a WAY. A Classic presentation of the Mormon long range view from the 90’s –

The man, whose voice you heard explaining about life being a 3 Act Play is or was (He pass into the 3rd Act Recently) an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – President Boyd K. Packer, yeah, the Mormons) and as he said, “Happy ever after comes in the 3rd Act.” Right now we are confused and doing our best to get through 2nd. What we do in the 2nd Act makes all the difference. This other video is called Our Eternal Life – What Do Mormons Believe?

Now, I am frequently asked, when I tell people my name is Dave Thomas, “Oh do you own Wendy’s?” But I am not that burger guy, hence my Blog handle notburgerguy.

The Burger guy Dave Thomas

There are a lot of Dave Thomas’s. And when I mentioned my name I am often asked if I know another Dave Thomas. Most times I don’t. I once was confused with this Dave Thomas.

Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas in the movie Strange Brew – a       celebration of all things Canadian

This is how it happened. Paula and I had an opportunity to teach at a lush hotel in Muai, Hawaii. Now trust me that doesn’t happen a lot. I had always wanted to try scuba diving and so I arranged an appointment for lessons and when they asked my name and I told them “Dave Thomas” they got really excited. When I showed up for my lesson they were visually disappointed – that does happen a lot. They thought I was Dave Thomas the Canadian comedian and actor. I think he’d been there before and was a good tipper. I try to be kind when I tip for services, but I guess I wasn’t in this guy’s league. The lesson didn’t go well – I’m a big guy, shall we say Rubenesque? My face mask was too small and they didn’t have enough weights to keep me down under the water – I fought to stay submerged. My instructor caught this view (below) luckily. Most of the time I just laid flapping on the top of the waves and froth. When my discouraged under water guide gave up, he left me flopping and gasping for air on the beach. I wasn’t thrilled, but I would have tried again, but as I laid prostrate gasping for oxygen a group of hyperactive environmentalists mistook me for Shamu and tried to push me back into the surf.

If you look close at my too small goggles you’ll see they are half filled with water

Yeah a typical me moment, But, I want you to know, I enjoy being THIS Dave Thomas – me. Feeding a family of eight people isn’t easy. I spent a good portion of my life working two jobs – I was a water treatment guy, I loaded freight, I was a custodian, but my primary job was always being a teacher. I love teaching.

This is me in my first gig as a Seminary Teacher at Olympus High School in 1973. As you can see I enjoyed it.

I spent 31 years of my life as a teacher for The Church Education System for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1973 – 2004). That means I taught professionally for the LDS Church, yeah Mormons. I taught the New and Old Testament, The Book of Mormon, Mormon Church’s History, Paula helped me and we taught a Preparation for Marriage Class (Paula has an Associate Degree in Marriage and Family Science) and I even taught World Religions – Nemaste – As-salamu alaykum – Shalom and Vaya Con Dios – I love and respect how others see and interact with the divine. I spent 17 years going to University and yes, working two jobs at the same time. I have a degree in Communications, a Masters in Educational Administration for Adult Learners and I’m Doctor Thomas in Curriculum and Instruction in Secondary Education. We, my wife and I have taught for Continuing Education at BYU in the Education Week and Especially for Youth Programs for 10 years. I was an Adjunct Faculty Member at the University of Phoenix for 25 years – where I taught Life Assessment, Humanities, World Religions and Film Studies. I worked as an Employment Assistant Missionary for a 18 months – helping people upgrade and find jobs. I taught LDS Institute classes for ten years at the University of Utah. We taught a weekly class at the Utah State Prison for 5 years. And my wife and I taught all over the world as tour guides.

Mormon Church History Tour

Me holding forth from Pyramid in Belize

 Paula teaching people how to breathe in Tibet

A Quiet Moment In China

The Aloha Spirit in Hawaii

Paula experiencing Italian charm in the Palazzo Vecchio

Paula hanging out with the girls (The more sensitive of them would prefer to be called a Caryatid) at the Acropolis in Athens

Paula deciding if she going to climb those steps at Chichen Itza, Mexico

Ephesus, Turkey

Swapping War Stories with a fellow teacher in China

Pantheon in Rome

Me celebrating the fact I’m still a petite at Hilo Hattie’s in Maui

Paula assessing the Damage of a visit from Hurricane Wilma in Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico in 2005

Me discussing the weight loss secrets of Chairman Mao in Tiananmen square

Paula with Tel Megiddo in front of her and the Plains of Armageddon behind her.

So I’m a Husband of a truly beautiful woman, the father of six amazing kids – Dave, Jim, Steve, Mindi, Mike and Jon who successfully found Catherine, Jeanette, Jennifer, Elray, Heather and Erin who mass produced 27 grandkids – no I will not name them all and I am a TEACHER.

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1. Joseph F. Smith

2. Billy Bartty was too young to be in The Wizard of Oz, but messed with Munchkins in the unfortunate 1981 comedy film starring Chevy Chase, Carrie Fisher, Eve Arden, and Billy Barty and the film was about the process of casting Munchkins for the Judy Garland movie. Billy was an active working actor so his career had high and low moments, but in the long haul it was stellar. He and his family were active Latter-day Saints. He work with Mickey Rooney in the Mickey McGuire shorts, was a regular with the Spike Jones and his City Slickers where he was known for his remarkable parody of flamboyant pianist Liberace. This shows his versatility –

And here’s a bit Liberace and Biography of his life –